LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
URBAN A 

YOUNG  MEN’S 

Association  for  Mutual  Improvement 


CITY  OK  ALBANY. 


SKETCH  OF  THE]  LIVES 


HARMANUS  BLEECKER 


SEBASTIAN  A CORNELIA  COSTER; 

WITH  A HISTORY  OF  THE 

GIFT  OF  THE  “BLEECKER  FUND” 

TO  THE 

YOUNG  MEN’S  ASSOCIATION. 


LIST  OF  SUBSCRIBERS 

TO  THE 

Y_  IMI.  _A- 

" HARMANUS  BLEECKER  HALL " FUND. 


ALBANY,  N.  Y.: 

WEED,  PARSONS  & COMPANY,  PRINTERS. 
1888. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/youngmensassocia00youn_0 


CONTE  NTS. 


r 


PAGE. 

Officers  Y.  M.  A.  for  1887 5 

History  of  Young  Men’s  Association 7 

Sketch  of  life  of  Harmanus  Bleecker 11 

Clause  from  will  of  Harmanus  Bleecker 13 

The  gift  to  the  city  by  Mrs.  Coster 13 

Clause  from  will  of  John  V.  L.  Pruyn 19 

c Proposition  of  Amasa  J.  Parker  to  the  Y.  M.  A 20 

• Report  of  Joint  Committee 22 

' Committee  of  Fifty 24 

'<1  Appeal  of  Citizens’  Committee 26 

Letter  from  Amasa  J.  Parker 28 

Resolution  of  Board  of  Managers  Y.  M.  A 30 

Programme  of  concert  in  Union  Hall 32 

Business  Committees 33 

List  of  Subscribers 35 


* 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  Y.  M.  A.  FOR  1887 


President. 

Eugene  Brumaghim. 

First  Vice-President. 

S.  Ed.  Miller. 

Second  Vice-President . 

Charles  B.  Dunham. 

Treasurer. 

Frank  Yan  Derzee. 

Recording  Secretary. 

G.  James  Greene. 


Corresponding  Secretary. 

Thos.  F.  Wilkinson. 

Curators. 

Dr.  H.  E.  Mereness,  Dr.  L.  B.  Winnie, 

Wm.  H.  King. 


Managers. 


Daniel  A.  Lawler, 
Chas.  J.  Buchanan, 
Samuel  C.  Wooster, 
Thomas  F.  Wilkinson, 
James  W.  Ten  Eyck, 
S.  Ed.  Miller, 


Chas.  B.  Dunham, 
Curtis  N.  Douglass, 
Thompson  S.  Craig, 
Fred.  Easton, 
Edward  McClaskey, 
Wm.  H.  Smith. 


Librarian. 

Burr  D.  Blair. 

Assistant  Librarian. 

Grace  Davis. 


BOARD  OF  LIFE  TRUSTEES, 


President. 

Erastus  Corning. 

Vice-President. 

Henry  R.  Pierson. 

Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

Wm.  P.  Rudd. 

Maurice  E.  Viele,  John  H.  Van  Antwerp, 

Dudley  Olcott,  Amasa  J.  Parker,  Jr. 

Ex-  Officio. 

Eugene  Brumaghim,  President , Y.  M.  A. 

S.  Ed.  Miller,  Vice-President , Y.  M.  A. 

Frank  Yan  Derzee,  Treasurer,  Y.  M.  A. 

Leonard  Kip,  President  Albany  Institute. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  Y.  M.  A. 


The  Young  Men’s  Association  is  the  oldest  institution  of  the 
kind  in  the  country. 

In  the  Argus  and  Journal  of  November  30,  1833,  appeared 
the  following  notice: 

“ A meeting  of  the  young  men  of  this  city,  favorable  to  the 
formation  of  a Society  for  Debate  and  Mental  Improvement,  will 
take  place  at  the  Temperance  House,  North  Market  street, 
to-morrow  evening  at  seven  o’clock.” 

John  J.  Hill  wrote  the  notice.  “ The  Temperance  House  ” 
stood  where  the  Delavan  now  stands.  The  meeting  was  held. 
The  attendance  was  small,  but  those  present  were  in  earnest. 
John  J.  Hill  is  the  only  man  now  living  who  was  there.  Plans 
were  presented  and  discussed;  a committee  to  prepare  an  address 
to  the  young  men  of  the  city  was  appointed,  and  an  adjourn- 
ment to  December  4th,  was  voted. 

At  this  adjourned  meeting,  this  committee,  consisting  of 
Henry  Hart,  then  a teacher  in  the  Albany  Female  Academy, 
father  of  the  well-known  Bret  Harte,  John  J.  Hill  and  others, 
reported  an  address  which  was  adopted.  This  paper  soon 
secured  about  two  hundred  signatures. 

On  the  evening  of  December  10th,  1833,  a third  meeting  was 
held  in  the  Mayor’s  Court  Room,  City  Hall.  The  attendance 
was  large;  Charles  A.  Hopkins  was  called  to  the  chair;  William 
Green  and  Sidney  Sawyer  were  the  secretaries.  It  resulted  in 
a committee  to  draft  a constitution  and  nominate  officers. 

The  original  constitution,  prepared  by  Amos  Dean,  is  still 
preserved  in  the  safe  of  the  Association,  signed  by  about  seven 
hundred  and  fifty  names.  It  is  an  interesting  document,  con- 
taining, as  it  does,  the  names  of  most  of  the  young  men  who 


8 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


were  the  glory  of  the  city  fifty  years  ago,  many  of  whom  have 
since  been  its  leading  citizens  in  every  department  of  enterprise 
and  honor. 

The  first  election  took  place  December  13th,  resulting  in  the 
choice  of  Amos  Dean  for  president;  Robert  E.  Ward,  William 
Jackson,  Robert  L.  Kearney,  vice-presidents;  Theodore  Olcott, 
treasurer;  William  Green,  recording  secretary;  John  Van 
Schaick,  corresponding  secretary;  Philo  K.  Cole,  Daniel  Camp- 
bell, William  Parmelee,  Sidney  Sawyer,  Walter  R.  Bush,  Deni- 
son Worthington,  Samuel  M.  Woodruff,  Charles  Woodhouse, 
William  E.  Bleecker  and  Henry  Hart,  managers. 

The  board  met  for  organization  the  next  morning  after  elec- 
tion, December  14th,  in  the  supervisors’  room.  City  Hall,  and 
meetings  were  held  daily  for  many  days  afterward.  Almost  the 
first  act  of  the  executive  committee  was  to  sign  the  following 
agreement: 

“We  agree  to  become  jointly  responsible,  equally  with  each 
other  for  all  sums  of  money,  expended  by  our  order,  for  the 
Young  Men’s  Association  of  Mutual  Improvement,  while  we 
continue  members  of  the  executive  committee.” 

Knickerbocker  Hall  then  stood  on  Broadway,  between  Maiden 
Lane  and  State  street,  where  Coming’s  hardware  store  formerly 
stood,  and  in  it  the  Young  Men’s  Association  found  its  first 
home.  A reading  room  was  started  and  lectures  arranged  — the 
board  becoming  personally  responsible  for  rent,  furniture  and 
other  expenses. 

The  lecture  course  met  with  much  favor  and  was  productive  of 
good  results.  The  Association  was  incorporated  under  an  act  of 
the  Legislature,  March  12,  1835,  chapter  31.  Acts  in  refer- 
ence to  the  Association  were  passed  April  24,  1872,  chapter 
341;  March  23,  1877,  chapter  62;  May  9,  1878,  chapter  236. 

Its  declared  purpose  is  that  of  “ establishing  and  maintaining 
a library  room,  reading  room,  literary  and  scientific  lectures 
and  other  means  of  promoting  moral  and  intellectual  improve- 
ment.” 

The  first  annual  meeting  was  held  at  Knickerbocker  Hall, 
February  3,  1834.  This  hall  was  occupied  by  the  Association 
until  1840,  when  rooms  were  taken  in  the  Exchange  Building, 
State  street,  standing  where  the  Government  Building  now  is; 


YOUNG  MEN'S  ASSOCIATION. 


9 


and  remained  there  until  1852,  when  the  removal  to  the  Com- 
mercial Bank  building  took  place. 

In  this  latter  building,  they  occupied  not  only  a library  and 
reading  room,  but  also  a hall,  where  public  entertainments  were 
frequently  given,  and  which  was  known  for  many  years  as 
“Association  Hall.” 

In  1870  the  Association  removed  to  Martin  Hall,  on  South 
Pearl  street.  During  this  time,  the  institution  was  not  prosper- 
ous. It  became  somewhat  involved  financially,  and  required  a 
united  public  effort  to  place  it  again  upon  a solid  foundation. 
More  instrumental  in  strengthening  the  Association  at  this  time, 
than  any  thing  else,  was  the  offer  of  Hon.  John  V.  L.  Pruyn,  as 
trustee  of  the  estate  of  the  late  Harmanus  Bleecker,  of  a lease, 
for  a term  of  years  to  the  Association,  of  the  property  on  North 
Pearl,  Steuben  and  Chapel  streets.  This  offer  was  accepted. 
Under  it  the  Association  secured  comfortable  and  commodious 
library  and  reading  rooms,  and  an  income  from  rentals,  which 
gave  to  the  Association  its  rent  free.  This  property  was  first 
occupied  under  this  lease,  in  May,  1877..  Judge  Amasa  J.  Par- 
ker as  successor  to  John  V.  L.  Pruyn,  renewed  the  lease  at  its 
expiration,  and  the  Association  has  since  been  steadily  growing 
in  strength  and  usefulness. 

On  January  7,  1888,  all  of  the  real  estate  occupied  and 
leased  by  the  Association  was  conveyed  to  the  Y.  M.  A.,  and  it 
now  lives  in  its  own  building  through  the  generosity  and  public 
spirit  of  Harmanus  Bleecker  and  the  citizens  of  Albany.  On 
Wednesday  evening,  December  12,  1883,  the  public  exercises 
of  the  semi-centennial  anniversary  were  held  in  the  Leland 
Opera  House.  Hon.  Henry  R.  Pierson,  presided.  The  exercises 
consisted  of  an  Address  of  Welcome  by  Oren  E.  Wilson,  presi- 
dent Y.  M.  A.  ; Historical  Address,  Hon.  Samuel  Hand;  Poem, 
William  H.  McElroy,  Esq. ; Oration,  Hon.  Stewart  L.  Woodford. 

Among  those  in  attendance  upon  this  occasion  was  Rev.  Charles 
Woodhouse,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  institution  and  a mem- 
ber of  its  first  Executive  Committee.  The  Young  Men’s  Debat- 
ing Society,  under  the  management  of  the  Association,  continued 
from  January  11,  1834,  to  January  25,  1856. 

Lecture  courses,  for  many  years  free  to  the  members,  were 
sustained  from  the  first.  Local  talent  was  employed,  and  often 
2 


IO 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


the  most  attractive  speakers  from  abroad  were  secured  on  pay- 
ment of  their  personal  expenses. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  few  men  living  since  1833,  of  emi- 
nent ability  to  interest  and  instruct  popular  audiences,  can  be 
named,  who  have  not  appeared  on  the  platform  of  this  Associa- 
tion. Fees  for  attending  lecture  courses  were  first  taken  in 
1854-5. 

The  Association  has  had  many  generous  gifts  in  books, 
periodicals,  money,  furniture,  pictures,  free  lectures  and  other 
gratuitous  service.  It  has  had  tried  and  true  friends  among 
its  life  members  and  others,  who  have  come  to  its  relief  in 
time  of  need.  Among  its  earlier  benefactors  were  Stephen 
Van  Rensselaer,  from  whom  it  derived  its  first  gift  of  $100  ; R. 
B.  Huygens,  Martin  Van  Buren,  Rev.  Dr.  E.  N.  Kirk,  Joel 
Munsell,  Thomas  W.  Olcott,  Thurlow  Weed,  William  H.  Dewitt 
and  others.  Edwin  Forrest,  the  distinguished  actor,  gave  the 
profits  of  a benefit  January  8,  1834.  Dr.  George  Cook,  an  Eng- 
lish surgeon,  sometimes  resident  here,  made  a donation  of  $1,000, 
spent  in  useful  books  of  his  own  selection,  between  1834  and 
1852,  many  of  which  remain  in  the  library.  The  largest  gift, 
up  to  this  time,  comes  from  a bequest  of  the  late  Hon.  Erastus 
Corning,  amounting  to  $10,000,  the  benefit  of  which  the  Associa- 
tion has  constantly  realized.  This  pamphlet  tells  of  the  endow- 
ment of  the  Young  Men’s  Association  to  the  amount  of  nearly 
$200,000. 

It  is  creditable  to  the  city.  It  speaks  alike  of  the  generosity 
of  our  citizens  and  of  the  place  which  this  Association  occupies 
among  the  institutions  of  our  city. 


YOUNG  MENS  ASSOCIATION 


ii 


HARMANUS  BLEECKER. 


[The  following  sketch  of  the  life  of  Harmanus  Bleecker,  the  extract  from 
his  will,  the  deed  by  his  widow  to  the  late  Hon.  John  V.  L.  Pruyn,  and  his 
delegation  of  the  trust  to  Judge  Amasa  J.  Parker,  was  published  in  the 
Albany  Evening  Times  of  March  30,  1886.] 

Some  account  of  this  public  benefactor  is  now  in  order. 
Harmanus  Bleecker  was  what  the  newspapers  delight  to  call  an 
“Old  Albanian/’  He  was  the  fifth  in  descent  from  Jan  Jansen 
Bleecker,  who  came  from  Holland  to  New  Amsterdam  (now 
New  York  city)  in  1658,  and  settled  subsequently  in  Albany, 
where  he  died  in  1732,  at  the  age  of  ninety-one  years.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  aldermen  of  this  city  named  in  its  charter  of 
1686  and  afterward  held  the  office  of  recorder  from  1696  to 
1699,  and  of  mayor  in  1700.  Two  of  his  four  sons,  Rutger  and 
Johannes,  held,  also,  the  offices  of  recorder  and  mayor  of  this 
city.  Harmanus,  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Wendell)  Bleecker. 
was  born  October  9,  1779,  and  died  at  No.  42  Chapel  street,  July 
19,  1849.  His  remains  repose  in  lot  sixty-one,  section  3,  Rural 
Cemetery,  and  his  portrait  hangs  in  the  rooms  of  the  Young 
Men’s  Association. 

Having  no  taste  for  the  mercantile  pursuits  of  his  father,  he 
chose  the  profession  of  law.  John  Y.  Henry  and  James  Emott, 
eminent  counselors  of  that  day,  were  his  tutors.  He  was  admit- 
ted to  practice  in  1801,  when  in  his  twenty-second  year.  Theo- 
dore Sedgwick,  of  Berkshire  county.  Mass.,  became  his  partner. 
The  law  partnership  of  Bleecker  & Sedgwick  continued  many 
years,  and  gained  an  honorable  and  lucrative  practice.  Mr. 
Bleecker  especially,  had  a State-wide  reputation  as  an  eminent 
advocate.  His  name  is  frequently  found  in  the  pages  of  the 
reports  of  the  days  of  Kent,  Spencer,  and  those  other  eminent 
lights  of  the  law  at  that  time  connected  with  very  important 
causes.  Their  office  was  thronged  with  students,  many  of  whom 


12 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


attained  eminent  rank  in  the  legal  profession.  David  Dudley 
Field,  of  New  York,  and  Bradford  R.  Wood,  of  this  city, 
and  William  H.  Bogart,  of  Aurora,  are  still  among  the  living. 
Later  in  his  professional  life  Peter  Seton  Henry  was  his  partner. 
In  politics  he  was  first  a federalist,  and  represented  this  district 
in  the  Twelfth  Congress,  1811  to  1813.  In  the  sessions  of 
1814  and  1815  he  was  a member  of  the  State  Assembly.  Later 
in  life  he  was  appointed  charge  d’affaires  to  The  Hague  by 
his  friend  Martin  Van  Buren,  and  held  that  position  from 
May,  1839,  for  many  years.  On  the  occasion  of  his  going 
abroad  a public  dinner  was  given  him  as  an  expression  of  esteem 
by  his  fellow-citizens.  Previous  to  this  he  had  served  on  the 
commission  to  determine  the  boundary  between  New  York  and 
New  Jersey,  and  declined  the  office  of  Adjutant-G-eneral  ten- 
dered him  by  De  Witt  Clinton. 

In  literature  he  had  a good  classical  education  without  gradu- 
ation at  college,  and  when  retired  from  active  life,  he  devoted 
himself  to  the  studies  of  literature  and  theology  with  great  zeal. 
In  1817  he  was  elected  a member  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  of 
Union,  and  in  1843  received  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  from  that  col- 
lege. It  is  said  that  he  was  a master  of  the  Dutch  language  and 
literature,  and  spoke  and  wrote  it  with  purity  and  elegance. 

He  was  an  active  and  judicious  friend  of  popular  learning. 
For  some  years  he  was  a trustee  of  the  Albany  Academy.  From 
1822  to  1834  he  was  a Regent  of  the  University,  and  at  the  time 
of  his  decease  he  had  been  for  several  years  a valued  member  of 
the  executive  committee  of  the  Normal  School. 

A man  of  religious  thought  and  pure  life,  he  attended  the 
church  of  his  father,  of  which  Rev.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman  is  now 
pastor,  for  most  of  bis  life.  In  1811  he  was  on  the  first  Board 
of  Managers  of  the  American  Bible  Society.  In  the  latter  part 
of  his  life  he  attended  upon  the  Unitarian  preaching  in  this  city. 
On  occasions  of  public  gatherings  he  was  often  called  to  preside, 
which  service  he  performed  with  grace,  dignity  and  presence. 
The  St.  Nicholas  Benevolent  Society,  which  held  in  its  member- 
ship the  best  Dutch  blood  of  the  city,  honored  him  for  many 
years  with  its  presidency. 

He  married,  while  residing  in  Holland,  Sebastiana  Cornelia 
Mentz,  of  Arnhem,  Holland,  who  came  with  him  to  Albany  and 


YOUNG  MEN'S  ASSOCIATION. 


13 


helped  cheer  his  later  years.  He  left  no  children,  and  having 
quite  a handsome  property,  it  was  his  desire  that  it  should  go 
after  the  death  of  his  wife  to  the  city  of  Albany.  This,  how- 
ever, does  not  appear  in  his  will,  and  his  widow,  to  whom  the 
property  was  left  unreservedly,  could  have  kept  every  dollar  of 
it  had  she  so  chosen,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  residuary 
clause  from  the  last  will  and  testament  of  Harmanus  Bleecker, 
proved  and  recorded  September  8,  1849  : 

The  Original  Will. 

I devise  and  bequeath  all  the  rest  and  residue  of  my  estate, 
real  and  personal,  to  my  beloved  wife,  Sebastiana  Cornelia,  to 
her  sole  and  separate  use,  exclusive  and  independent  of  any  hus- 
band she  may  have,  so  as  not  to  be  subject  to  his  control,  debts 
or  contracts,  or  to  any  judgment  or  executions  against  him,  or 
to  any  act  or  thing  done  or  suffered  by  him,  and  so  that  such 
husband  shall  not  in  any  event  have  any  interest  therein,  and 
that  she  may  dispose  thereof,  or  any  part  thereof,  by  will  or 
otherwise,  in  like  manner,  and  with  like  effect,  as  if  she  was  sole 
and  unmarried. 

I appoint  my  wife,  Sebastiana  Cornelia,  executrix,  and  John 
V.  L.  Pruyn  of  the  city  of  Albany,  counselor-at-law,  and  Theo- 
dore Sedgewick,  executors  of  this  will. 

Witnessed  by  Weare  C.  Little  and  Rufus  G.  Beard slie  of 
Albany. 


In  due  course  of  time  the  widow  married  Mr.  Coster  and  went 
to  the  Netherlands,  where  she  resided  until  her  death.  Before 
going,  she  executed  the  following  deed  of  trust,  which  sets  forth 
the  full  particulars  of  the  gift  to  the  city  and  the  conditions 
controlling  it. 

The  Gift  to  the  City. 

This  indenture  made  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  February,  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-two,  between 
Sebastiana  Cornelia  Coster  (late  Sebastiana  Cornelia  Bleecker), 
widow  of  Harmanus  Bleecker,  late  of  the  city  of  Albany,  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  deceased,  and  now  the  wife  of  Hendrick 
Coster,  presently  residing  in  the  said  city,  of  the  first  part;  the 
said  Hendrick  Coster,  of  the  second  part;  John  V.  L.  Pruyn,  of 
said  city,  counselor  at  law,  of  the  third  part. 

Whereas,  The  said  Harmanus  Bleecker,  departed  this  life 
at  the  city  of  Albany,  aforesaid,  on  or  about  the  19th  day  of 


H 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


July,  1849,  and  the  said  party  of  the  first  part,  has  lately  inter- 
married with  the  said  Hendrick  Coster,  of  Alkmaan,  in  the 
kingdom  of  the  Netherlands,  and  is  now  his  wife,  these  presents, 
therefore,  witness: 

That  the  said  party  of  the  first  part  in  consideration  of  the 
premises  and  of  the  sum  of  $10,  to  her  in  hand  paid  by  the  said 
party  of  the  second  part,  hereby  gives  and  grants  to  the  said  party  * 

of  the  second  part,  from  and  immediately  after  the  death  of  the 
said  party  of  the  first  part,  if  the  said  party  of  the  second  part 
survive  her,  for  and  during  the  period  of  his  natural  life,  the 
estate  and  property  hereinafter  described  and  mentioned;  and 

Whereas,  The  said  Bleecker,  by  his  last  will  and  testament, 
bearing  date  the  15th  day  of  October,  1847,  and  a codicil  thereto 
bearing  date  the  30th  day  of  April,  1849,  after  making  certain 
specific  legacies,  gave  and  devised  all  the  residue  of  his  estate, 
both  real  and  personal,  comprising  nearly  the  whole  thereof  to 
his  wife  the  said  Sebastiana  Cornelia,  to  her  sole  and  separate 
use  exclusive  and  independent  of  any  husband  she  might  have, 
and  afterwards  and  at  the  time  in  that  behalf  hereinbefore  men- 
tioned, departed  this  life  at  the  said  city  of  Albany  without 
having  in  any  way  revoked  said  will,  and  the  same  was  duly 
proved  before  the  surrogate  of  the  county  of  Albany  as  a will  of 
both  real  and  personal  estate,  and  recorded  as  such  on  or  about 
the  8th  day  of  September,  1849,  as  by  the  said  will  or  the  record 
will  more  fully  appear,  on  which  said  will,  letters  testamentary 
were  issued  by  the  said  surrogate  to  the  said  Sebastiana  Cornelia 
Bleecker,  the  executrix  therein  named;  the  said  John  V.  L. 

Pruyn  and  Theodore  Sedgewick  executors  named  therein  not 
having  assumed  the  execution  thereof;  and 

Whereas,  The  said  Harmanus  Bleecker  (although  the  resid- 
uary devise  and  bequest  so  as  aforesaid  made  by  him,  in  and  by 
his  last  will  and  testament,  was  made  absolutely  to  his  said  wife 
without  any  trust  in  regard  thereto  or  any  limitation  or  condi- 
tion whatever),  intended,  and  such  was  the  verbal  understand- 
ing between  himself  and  his  said  wife,  that  the  capital  or  prin- 
cipal of  the  said  estate  and  property  so  devised  and  bequeathed, 
or  the  great  bulk  thereof,  should  eventually  be  applied  in  some  <J 

judicious  way  to  be  permanently  beneficial  to  the  said  city  of 
Albany,  his  native  city;  but  not  having  finally  decided  upon  the 
best  manner  of  disposing  of  the  same,  in  order  to  carry  out  aud 
effectuate  his  intentions,  made  the  devise  and  bequest  thereof  to 
his  said  wife,  absolutely  confiding  in  the  integrity  of  her  char- 
acter for  the  eventual  appropriation  thereof  in  such  manner  as 
should,  in  her  judgment,  best  tend  to  carryout  his  general  views 
in  regard  thereto. 


YOUNG  MEN'S  ASSOCIATION. 


15 


And  Whereas,  The  said  Sebastiana  Cornelia,  with  her  said 
husband  is  now  about  to  leave  the  United  States  for  Europe,  for 
a considerable  period,  and  may  be  absent  several  years,  and  no 
scheme  having  as  yet  been  fixed  upon  by  her  for  the  eventual 
appropriation  of  the  said  estate  and  property,  and  not  consider- 
ing it  expedient  nor  harmonizing  with  the  views  of  the  said 
Harmanus  Bleecker  to  perfect  one  at  this  time,  she  has  consid- 
ered it  proper  in  view  of  her  said  contemplated  absence  and  of 
the  changes  and  uncertainty  of  life,  to  make  the  arrangement 
best  suited  in  her  judgment  to  secure  the  eventual  fulfilment  of 
the  intentions  of  the  said  Harmanus  Bleecker,  by  executing  to 
the  said  John  V.  L.  Pruyn,  the  conveyance  and  transfer  to  him 
in  this  instrument  contained,  trusting  to  his  personal  integrity 
to  carry  out  eventually  the  views  and  wishes  of  the  said  Har- 
manus Bleecker  in  regard  to  the  property  so  conveyed  and  trans- 
ferred, in  such  manner  as  he  shall  deem  best,  with  which  views 
and  wishes,  he,  as  the  personal  friend  of  the  said  Harmanus 
Bleecker  for  many  years  before  his  death,  became  acquainted  to 
a great  extent.  How,  therefore,  this  indenture  witnesseth. 

That  the  said  party  of  the  first  part,  in  consideration  of  the 
premises,  and  of  the  sum  of  one  dollar  to  her  in  hand  paid  by 
the  said  party  of  the  third  part,  the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby 
confessed,  hath  granted,  bargained,  transferred  and  conveyed, 
and  doth  hereby  grant,  bargain,  transfer  and  convey  to  the  said 
party  of  the  third  part,  and  to  his  heirs  and  assigns,  from  and 
immediately  after  the  death  of  the  said  party  of  the  first  part, 
and  of  her  husband,  the  said  Hendrick  Coster,  should  he  sur- 
vive her,  all  and  singular,  the  estate  and  property,  real  and  per- 
sonal, hereinafter  mentioned,  and  which  belonged  to  the  said 
Harmanus  Bleecker  at  the  time  of  his  death,  to  wit: 

The  premises  in  the  city  of  Albany  bounded  easterly  in  front 
by  North  Pearl  street,  northerly  by  Steuben  street,  westerly  by 
Chapel  street,  and  southerly  by  premises  now  or  lately  owned  by 
Edward  C.  Delavan,  with  the  six  three-story  brick  dwelling- 
houses  thereon,  two  fronting  on  each  of  said  streets,  that  at  the 
corner  of  Steuben  and  Chapel  streets  having  been  the  residence 
of  the  said  Harmanus  Bleecker  at  the  time  of  and  for  several 
years  before  his  death.  On  these  premises  there  was  a mortgage 
at  the  time  of  the  death  of  the  said  Harmanus  Bleecker,  orig- 
inally given  to  the  executors  of  the  estate  of  Thomas  Gould, 
demised,  on  which  about  $11,500  of  principal  money  re- 
mained unpaid,  and  of  which  the  said  Sebastiana  Cornelia  has 
heretofore  taken  an  assignment  to  protect  and  defend  the  title  to 
the  said  premises. 

Also  on  lots  Nos.  10,  66,  67  and  122  on  the  Albany  pier,  as 
originally  laid  out  by  the  commissioner  for  erecting  the  said 
pier,  with  all  the  rights,  franchises  and  privileges  belonging 


i6 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


thereto.  On  said  lot  No.  122,  the  said  Sebastiana  Cornelia  has, 
since  the  death  of  the  said  Harmanus  Bleecker,  erected  a brick 
building  at  the  cost  of  about  $4,500. 

One  hundred  and  sixty-seven  shares  of  $100  each  at  par  of  the 
Utica  and  Schenectady  Railroad  Company,  110  shares  of  which 
now  stand  in  the  name  of  Sebastiana  Cornelia  Bleecker,  and  fifty- 
seven  shares  in  the  name  of  Sebastiana  Cornelia  Coster. 

Thirty-three  shares  of  the  third  increase  of  the  stock  of  said 
company  issued  since  the  death  of  Harmanus  Bleecker,  on  each 
of  which  shares  $60  have  been  paid  subject  to  the  further  pay- 
ment of  $40  on  each  of  the  said  shares,  being  part  of  the  thirty- 
nine  shares  which  stand  in  the  name  of  Sebastiana  Cornelia 
Bleecker. 

Two  hundred  and  fifty-three  shares  of  the  capital  stock  of  the 
Mechanics  and  Farmers*  Bank  in  the  city  of  Albany,  of  $17  each, 
now  standing  in  the  name  of  Sebastiana  Cornelia  Bleecker.  (As 
the  charter  of  the  bank  is  about  expiring,  it  is  understood  that 
the  present  capital  of  this  stock  at  par,  or  any  part  thereof,  may 
be  re-invested  in  any  bank  or  banking  association  intended  either 
wholly,  or  in  part,  to  take  the  place  of  the  present  institution. 

Thirty  shares  of  $20  each  of  the  stock  of  the  Albany  Gas 
Light  Company,  standing  in  the  name  of  the  said  Sebastiana 
Cornelia  Bleecker. 

To  have  and  to  hold  the  said  estate  and  property  above  de- 
scribed and  mentioned  to  the  said  John  V.  L.  Pruyn  from  and 
immediately  after  the  death  of  the  said  Sebastiana  Cornelia  and 
of  the  said  Hendrick  Coster,  her  present  husband,  if  he  survived 
her,  and  to  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever.  And  although  this 
grant  is  made  and  is  hereby  declared  and  intended  to  be  made 
to  the  said  party  of  the  third  part  as  fully  and  absolutely  as 
the  party  of  the  first  part  can  make  the  same,  and  without  any 
qualification,  trust,  condition  or  limitation  whatever,  and  with- 
out any  accountability  by  him,  legal  or  otherwise,  to  any  court 
or  tribunal  on  any  pretense  whatsoever;  it  is  nevertheless  so  made 
by  the  party  of  the  first  jjart  in  the  confident  expectation  and 
hope  that  the  said  party  of  the  third  part  will  faithfully  apply 
the  said  property  and  the  net  proceeds  thereof  on  the  termina- 
tion of  the  life  estates  therein  of  the  said  party  of  the  first  part 
of  her  said  present  husband,  after  deducting  all  such  expenses 
and  charges  as  he  shall  consider  proper  and  reasonable,  in  such 
way  and  manner  as  he,  in  the  exercise  of  his  own  judgment  and 
discretion,  by  any  plan  or  scheme  to  be  fixed  by  him,  either 
wholly  or  in  part,  and  at  any  one  time  or  from  time  to  time  before 
or  after  the  termination  of  the  said  life  estates,  shall  deem  the  most 
judicious  and  advisable  in  order  to  carry  out  the  views  and 
wishes  of  the  said  Harmanus  Bleecker  as  hereinbefore  referred 
to,  without  any  accountability  to  any  body,  person  or  tribunal 


YOUNG  MENS  ASSOCIATION . 


1 7 


for  the  way  or  manner  in  which  he  shall  dispose  of  the  said  prop- 
erty and  estate,  or  any  part  thereof,  and  it  is  declared  to  he  the 
intention  and  express  wish  of  the  said  party  of  the  first  part,  that 
the  party  of  the  third  part,  before  making  such  application,  and 
from  time  to  time  until  the  same  shall  be  made  after  the  termi- 
nation of  the  said  life  estate,  shall  retain  for  his  use  the  sum  of 
five  per  cent  on  all  the  moneys  and  the  value  of  all  the  property 
and  estate,  which  may  be  so  applied  by  him  as  aforesaid,  in 
carrying  out  the  intention  of  the  said  Harmanus  Bleecker,  as 
aforesaid,  as  a compensation  for  his  care  and  trouble  in  regard 
thereto,  and  it  is  also  the  expectation  and  desire  of  the  party  of 
the  first  part,  that  the  party  of  the  third  part  will,  by  his  last 
will  and  testament,  or  otherwise,  or  by  the  passage  of  a law  by 
the  Legislature,  to  be  applied  for  by  him,  in  order  to  carry  out 
and  more  effectually  to  secure  the  ultimate  accomplishment  of 
the  object  sought  to  be  obtained  hereby,  in  such  form  as  may  be 
deemed  most  advisable,  provide  for  the  protection  and  for  the 
application  of  the  property  hereby  absolutely  conveyed  and  trans- 
ferred to  him  as  aforesaid  in  the  event  of  his  death  before  the 
termination  of  the  said  life  estate  therein  of  the  parties  of  the 
first  and  second  parts  or  before  the  eventual  application  thereof 
in  like  manner  as  he  would  have  expected  to  apply  the  same  if 
living.  And,  although  the  confidence  hereby  placed  in  the  said 
party  of  the  third  part  is  large  and  unlimited,  the  party  of  the 
first  part  feels  justified  in  so  placing  the  same  from  what  she 
well  knows  to  have  been  the  views  of  the  said  Harmanus 
Bleecker,  deceased,  in  reference  to  the  said  party  of  the  third 
part. 

And  it  is  hereby  declared  that  in  the  execution  of  the  personal 
confidence  hereby  placed  in  the  party  of  the  third  part,  when- 
ever he  may  see  fit  or  be  authorized  by  law  to  carry  out  the  same 
in  due  form,  he  shall  not  be  personally  liable  for  any  investments 
or  charges  on  the  said  estate,  which  he  may  see  fit  from  time  to 
time  to  make,  and  which  he  is  expected  to  make,  in  such  way 
and  manner,  and  as  often  as  he  shall  deem  the  same  proper,  or 
as  incurring  personal  liability  in  any  way  as  to  the  management, 
control  or  disposition  of  the  said  estate,  or  any  part  thereof; 
but  the  most  liberal  discretion  is  expected  to  be  exercised  by  him 
in  every  way  for  the  proper  carrying  out  and  execution  of  the 
personal  confidence  so  placed  in  him  as  aforesaid. 

And  it  is  further  declared  to  be  the  true  intent  and  meaning 
of  these  presents  that  nothing  herein  contained  shall  be  deemed 
to  impair  or  affect  the  right  of  the  said  party  of  the  first  part  to 
collect,  receive  and  enjoy  during  the  period  of  her  natural  life 
the  rents,  income  and  profits,  ordinary  and  extraordinary,  of 
the  said  estate  and  property  hereinbefore  described  to  and  for 
her  own  use,  and  as  her  separate  property  and  estate  free  from 
3 


i8 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


the  control  of  her  said  present  or  any  future  husband  and  not  in 
any  way  or  manner  subject  to  his  debts,  control,  disposition  or 
management. 

And  it  is  further  agreed  that  the  buildings  on  the  said  real 
estate  shall  at  all  times  be  kept  in  suitable  repair  and  condition 
and  reasonably  insured  against  loss  by  fire  out  of  the  rents  and 
profits  thereof.  And  in  case  of  fire  that  the  insurance  moneys 
shall  be  applied,  if  considered  most  judicious  by  the  said  parties 
of  the  first  and  third  parts,  to  the  reconstruction  of  the  building 
or  buildings  destroyed  in  such  manner  as  may  be  considered  most 
judicious. 

It  is  hereby  also  agreed  upon  that  the  stocks  hereinbefore  re- 
ferred to  are  to  be  transferred  and  held  in  such  manner  as  the 
said  Sebastiana  Cornelia  and  the  said  party  of  the  third  part 
may  agree  upon  in  order  to  promote  the  convenience  and  secure 
the  interest  of  both  parties. 

And  the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  in  consideration  of  the 
premises  and  of  the  sum  of  $10  to  him  in  hand  paid  by  the  said 
party  of  the  third  part,  doth  hereby  release  and  quit-claim  to 
the  said  party  of  the  third  part  all  and  singular  any  right,  inter- 
est or  estate  he  may  have  in  or  to  the  said  property  and  estate 
hereinbefore  conveyed  and  transferred  to  the  said  party  of  the 
third  part,  other  than  that  given  and  granted  to  him,  the  said 
party  of  the  second  part,  by  the  party  of  the  first  part. 

In  witness  whereof  said  parties  have  hereunto  set  their  hands 
and  seals,  the  day  and  year  first  above  mentioned. 

Sebastiana  Cornelia  Coster. 

HendA  Coster. 

John  Y.  L.  Pruyn. 

State  of  New  York,  City  of  Albany. 

Attested  February  28,  1852,  by  Philip  Ten  Eyck,  Commis- 
sioner of  Deeds. 


l.  s. 
A.  s. 
A.  s. 


The  Law  on  the  Subject. 

The  legacy  having  now  come  under  control  of  the  Hon.  John 
Y.  L.  Pruyn,  late  Chancellor  of  the  University,  he  secured  the 
passage  of  a special  act  which  forms  chapter  315,  Laws  of  1852, 
relative  to  certain  property  held  by  John  Y.  L.  Pruyn,  and  pro- 
vides in  substance: 

That  the  real  and  personal  property  derived  by  Sebastiana 
Cornelia  Coster,  of  Albany,  from  her  former  husband,  Harmanus 
Bleecker,  and  which  property,  reserving  a life  interest  therein, 
was  transferred  by  Cornelia  and  her  husband  Hendrick  Coster, 


YOUNG  MEN'S  ASSOCIATION. 


9 


of  the  Kingdom  of  Netherlands,  to  John  V.  L.  Pruyn,  by  in- 
denture dated  February  28,  1852,  recorded  in  the  county  clerk's 
office  March  3,  1852,  and  the  proceeds  of  such  property  shall 
not  be  subject  to  the  individual  debts  of  said  Pruyn.  And  it 
shall  be  lawful  for  him  by  any  instrument  in  writing  or  by  his 
last  will  and  testament  to  provide,  after  the  life  estates  so  reserved, 
for  the  future  management  thereof,  and  for  the  application  of 
the  capital  and  incomes  for  such  uses  and  purposes  and  to  such 
person  or  persons  or  body  corporate  for  such  time  and  on  such 
terms  and  conditions  as  the  said  J.  V.  L.  Pruyn  in  his  judgment 
and  discretion  may  deem  best  calculated  to  carry  out  the  views 
and  intentions  of  the  said  Harmanus  Bleecker,  referred  to  in  the 
said  indenture,  in  desiring  ultimately  to  make  the  said  property 
beneficial  to  his  native  city. 

Transferred  to  Judge  Parker. 

Mrs.  Coster  outlived  Mr.  Pruyn,  who  died  November  21,  1877, 
and  so  long  as  her  life  interest  continued,  nothing  could  be  done. 
Mr.  Pruyn  provided  for  the  transfer  of  the  trust,  by  the  follow- 
ing clause  in  his  will,  as  recorded  January  17,  1878: 

Fourteenth. — The  real  and  personal  property  owned  and  held 
by  me  under  and  in  virtue  of  a deed  and  transfer  from  Sebastiana 
Cornelia  Coster  (widow  of  Harmanus  Bleecker,  deceased)  and 
Hendrick  Coster,  her  husband,  bearing  date  the  28th  day  of  Febru- 
ary, 1852,  recorded  in  the  clerk’s  office  of  the  city  and  county  of 
Albany,  the  second  of  March,  1852,  and  referred  to  in  an  act  of 
the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York,  passed  April  15, 1852, 
I do  give,  devise  and  bequeath  to  Amasa  J.  Parker,  of  the  city 
of  Albany,  absolutely  and  unconditionally  in  the  said  property 
referred  to  in  the  said  deed,  as  fully  and  completely  as  I am 
thereby  requested  to  do.  I am  sure  that  the  honorable  confidence 
reposed  in  me  will  thus  be  faithfully  respected  and  fulfilled.  An 
inventory  of  the  said  property  as  it  existed  on  the  7th  day  of 
June,  1855,  signed  by  me,  will  be  found  in  a statement  or  account 
book,  marked  on  the  fly-leaf  “ Bleecker  estate.” 

Mrs.  Coster  died  on  the  10th  of  April,  1885,  and  after  con- 
cluding certain  legal  formalities  in  Holland,  and  considering 
several  different  plans  for  applying  the  property  for  the  benefit 
of  the  city  of  Albany,  Judge  Parker,  on  the  13th  of  December, 
1886,  sent  the  following  communication  to  the  Young  Men’s 
Association: 


20 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


To  the  Members  of  the  Younq  Men’s  Association  of  the  City  of 
Albany: 

I believe  all  agree  that  a public  hall  which  will  seat  two  thous- 
and five  hundred  persons,  opening  to  the  street  upon  the  ground 
floor  and  made  as  nearly  fire-proof  as  possible,  is  greatly  needed 
in  this  city,  and  that  the  almost  continued  demand  for  such  a 
hall  would  secure  a large  income  to  the  owner;  and  I have  been 
asked  to  so  dispose  of  the  Bleecker  fund  as  to  secure  the  con- 
struction of  such  a hall,  and  to  have  the  income  from  it  devoted 
to  the  promotion  of  the  objects  of  your  Association. 

It  is  believed  that  by  doing  so  the  usefulness  of  your  Associa- 
tion would  be  largely  extended,  and  that  it  would  enable  you  in 
due  time,  among  other  things,  to  establish  free  libraries  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  city. 

The  Bleecker  fund  alone  would  not  be  sufficient  to  accomplish 
all  that  is  desired,  but  I have  been  assured  by  members  of  your 
Association  that  an  amount  could  be  added  from  private  sub- 
scriptions sufficient  to  secure  the  object  in  view. 

I believe  your  Association  to  be  a most  desirable  instrument- 
ality for  doing  good,  and  I am  ready  to  co-operate  with  it  if  I 
can  be  satisfied  we  can  depend  upon  a successful  result.  But 
first  I must  know  just  what  is  thought  best  to  be  done  by  those 
belonging  to  your  Association. 

If,  with  the  hall,  a building  is  to  be  erected  for  the  various 
uses  of  your  Association,  it  is  desired  by  many  that  a room 
should  also  be  set  apart  in  it  for  the  Albany  Institute,  and 
another  for  the  Historical  Society,  and  it  is  necessary  for  you  to 
decide  just  what  building  is  to  be  erected,  and  to  fix  on  its  size 
and  ascertain  its  cost,  that  I may  make  some  distinct  proposi- 
tion to  you  as  to  the  sum  to  be  raised  by  subscription. 

As  to  the  means  at  my  disposal  I can  say  that,  in  addition  to 
providing  the  land  for  the  building,  I can  aid  to  the  extent  of 
about  $100,000,  about  $60,000  of  which  is  in  real  estate  assessed 
at  that  sum,  being  the  same  real  estate  now  held  by  you  under 
lease  from  me,  and  about  $40,000  is  in  securities,  readily  con- 
vertible into  cash,  and  reaching  that  amount  at  their  present 
market  value. 

I am  told  the  real  estate  is  very  desirable  property,  and  can  be 
sold  for  at  least  the  sum  named,  but  that  might  require  time 
and  cause  delay. 

If  the  Bleecker  fund  is  to  go  for  the  benefit  of  your  Associa- 
tion, I should  much  prefer  that  $25,000  of  it  at  least  should 
remain  on  investment,  and  with  the  $10,000  Corning  fund  it 
would  assure  you  a reliable  income  independent  of  other  means. 
This  would  give  you  the  benefit  of  using  about  $75,000  of  the 
Bleecker  fund  in  building,  in  addition  to  the  cost  of  the  land, 
n all,  about  $100,000  for  the  building  and  lot. 


YOUNG  MEN'S  ASSOCIATION 


21 


With  the  aid  and  advice  of  some  of  the  most  valuable  of  your 
members  I have  selected  a lot  for  the  building  on  the  north  side 
of  Washington  avenue,  between  Dove  and  Lark  streets,  one 
hundred  and  twenty-two  feet  wide  and  three  hundred  and  thirty 
feet  deep.  This  would  give  ample  room  for  a hall  one  hundred 
feet  front  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  deep,  and  for  such 
other  building  as  may  be  decided  upon. 

If  it  cannot  be  made  available  for  the  purposes  of  your  Asso- 
ciation, I will  use  the  land  in  giving  some  other  direction  to  the 
Bleecker  fund,  but  I should  much  prefer  giving  to  your  Associa- 
tion the  benefit  of  it,  and  placing  your  institution  on  a firm  and 
independent  foundation. 

After  you  have  concluded  what  is  best  to  be  done  and  I am 
informed  of  your  views  and  wishes,  I will  communicate  further 
with  you  on  the  subject. 

Of  course,  if  your  Association  is  to  receive  the  benefit  of  this 
fund,  and  is  to  do  what  is  proposed,  it  will  be  necessary  to  pro- 
cure an  amendment  to  your  charter,  enlarging  your  powers,  and 
making,  perhaps,  other  desirable  changes. 

With  my  best  wishes  for  the  prosperity  of  your  Association, 
which  has  done  much  good  in  the  past  and,  with  larger  means, 
can  do  very  much  more  in  the  future,  I am, 

Yours  respectfully, 

Amasa  J.  Parker. 

Albany,  December  13,  1886. 

The  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Association,  at  a meeting  held 
December  14,  1886,  accepted  the  offer  so  generously  made  by 
Judge  Parker,  in  the  following  resolution: 

Resolved , “ That  the  generous  proposition  of  Hon.  Amasa  J. 
Parker,  giving  to  the  Y.  M.  A.  the  use  of  the  Bleecker  fund, 
for  the  building  of  a Public  Hall  and  Library  Building,  to  be 
under  the  management  of  the  Association  be  accepted,  and  that 
this  Association  will  endeavor  to  carry  the  same  to  a successful 
completion.” 


Upon  the  20th  January,  1887,  at  a joint  conference  of  com- 
mittees appointed  from  the  life  members,  ex-presidents,  board 
of  managers  and  life  trustees  of  the  Young  Men’s  Association, 
a committee  was  appointed  to  formulate  the  views  and  wishes 
of  the  Young  Men’s  Association  in  relation  to  the  proposition 
contained  in  the  communication  of  Judge  Parker  to  the  Associa- 
tion. At  a meeting  held  March  9,  1887,  this  committee  reported 
as  follows : 


22 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


To  the  Members  of  the  Joint  Committee  Representing  the  Life 

Members , ex- Presidents,  Board  of  Managers  and  Life  Trustees 

of  the  Young  Men's  Association. 

Gentlemen.  — The  undersigned  committee,  appointed  at  a 
meeting  held  on  the  20th  day  of  January  last  to  formulate  the 
views  and  wishes  of  the  Young  Men's  Association  in  relation  to 
the  proposition  contained  in  the  communication  addressed  by  the 
Hon.  Amasa  J.  Parker  to  the  members  of  the  Young  Men’s  Asso- 
ciation, would  respectfully  report  that  they  have  carefully  con- 
sidered the  subject  with  reference  to  the  present  and  future  in- 
terests of  our  Association,  having  also  in  mind  the  welfare  of  the 
people  resident  in  the  city  of  Albany. 

We  have  had,  as  a committee,  frequent  meetings  with  Hon. 
Amasa  J.  Parker,  at  which  there  has  been  a full  and  free  discus- 
sion of  the  matter  in  all  its  bearings. 

From  him  we  have  learned  that  his  only  wish  is  to  do,  as  trus- 
tee of  the  estate  of  Harmanus  BJeecker,  that  which  will  result  in 
the  greatest  good  to  the  community  in  which  we  live,  and  that 
he  firmly  believes  the  Young  Men’s  Association  to  be  the  best 
instrumentality  for  attaining  that  end,  and  that  the  same  may 
be  reached  by  making  it  possible  for  the  Young  Men’s  Associa- 
tion to  provide  this  city  with  a large,  fully-equipped  and  well- 
arranged  public  hall . 

Further,  that  it  is  the  desire  of  Judge  Parker  that  the  Young 
Men’s  Association  should  not  accept  of  any  proposition  which 
he  might  make,  unless,  by  so  doing,  the  institution  will  be  mate- 
rially benefited,  and  be  the  better  able  to  increase  its  power  for 
doing  good. 

He  has  said,  in  substance,  to  us:  “1  have,  as  trustee,  a plot 
of  ground  on  the  north  side  of  Washington  avenue,  one  hundred 
and  twenty-three  feet  wide  by  three  hundred  and  thirty  feet  deep, 
running  through  to  Elk  street,  and  in  addition  about  $100,000, 
$60,000  of  which  is  invested  in  the  property  on  North  Pearl, 
Steuben  and  Chapel  streets,  where  our  library  rooms  now  are, 
and  $40,000  of  which  is  in  personal  property.  Can  and  will  the 
Association  take  all  of  this  property,  and  with  it  erect  a public 
hall  upon  the  Washington  avenue  plot,  and  in  the  undertaking 
devise  means  whereby  the  Association  will  not  only  be  able  to 
assume  the  new  responsibilities,  but  will  also  be  stronger  by  rea- 
son thereof?” 

Further  than  we  have  indicated,  Judge  Parker  imposes  no 
conditions  upon  our  acceptance  of  the  proposition.  Having  thus 
outlined  what  we  believe  to  be  the  relations  now  existing  between 
Judge  Parker,  as  trustee,  and  the  Young  Men’s  Association,  so 
far  as  the  matter  under  advisement  is  concerned,  we  will  now  ex- 
press our  opinion  as  to  the  “ views  and  wishes”  of  the  Young 
Men’s  Association  in  reference  thereto. 


YOUNG  MENS  ASSOCIATION. 


23 


First.  — It  is  the  unanimous  belief  of  this  committee  that  the 
plot  of  ground  on  Washington  avenue  selected  by  Judge  Parker 
is  well  adapted  for  the  location  of  a public  hall. 

It  is  vacant,  well  graded,  sloping  gently  to  the  north,  reaching 
from  street  to  street,  upon  one  of  the  finest  avenues  of  the  city, 
easily  reached  from  all  parts,  and  so  situated  that  it  is  most  con- 
venient to  the  great  mass  of  the  population  of  the  city  for  the 
purposes  for  which  it  is  intended. 

Second.  — That  it  is  the  wish  of  the  Young  Men’s  Association 
to  avail  itself  of  the  offer  made  by  Judge  Parker,  and  to  erect 
upon  the  land  referred  to  a public  hall. 

Now  as  to  the  method  to  be  adopted,  your  committee,  in  de- 
ciding upon  that  method,  have  been  aided  greatly  by  the  services 
of  architects  and  builders,  who  gave  to  us  sketches  and  reliable 
estimates  of  the  cost  of  such  a building  as  we  thought  would  be 
required,  and  guided  by  these  estimates  we  recommed  that  the 
Association  undertake  the  erection  of  a public  hall  upon  the 
Washington  avenue  site,  and  that  such  building  be  placed  upon 
the  lot  to  the  rear,  leaving  a space  in  front  for  a building,  here- 
after to  be  constructed,  for  the  use  of  the  Young  Men’s  Associa- 
tion library;  that  the  public  hall  shall  be  a building  substantially 
built,  capable  of  seating  two  thousand  and  five  hundred  persons, 
with  the  auditorium  upon  the  ground  floor,  practically  fire-proof 
and  with  all  the  most  modern  appliances.  Such  a building 
can  be  constructed  and  furnished  complete  for  about  $95,000. 

As  to  the  means  of  securing  the  amount  required.  Judge 
Parker  offers  us  $40,000  in  cash,  the  Association  has  in  the 
hands  of  its  trustees  $10,000,  available,  as  we  understand,  for 
such  purpose,  making  $50,000  in  all,  exclusive  of  any  money 
which  might  be  realized  by  the  sale  of  the  property  owned  by 
Judge  Parker  as  trustee,  and  now  occupied  by  the  Young  Men’s 
Association.  In  order  that  we  may  own  the  property  just  re- 
ferred to,  free  from  incumbrances,  securing  an  income  to  the 
Association  therefrom,  and  with  a view  of  keeping  the  library 
and  reading-rooms  where  they  now  are,  until  such  time  as  it  is 
deemed  wise  to  remove  them,  we  recommend  that  the  sum  of 
$45,000  required  to  erect  the  hall  over  the  sum  of  $50,000,  which 
we  are  now  able  to  realise,  be  raised  by  subscription.  This 
scheme,  as  outlined,  making  it  possible  for  the  Young  Men’s 
Association  to  own  a public  hall,  which,  with  the  land  upon 
which  it  stands,  will  have  cost  $122,000,  and  to  own  in  addition 
the  property  on  North  Pearl  street,  corner  Steuben  street,  as- 
sessed at  $63,000,  which  latter  property  will  provide  the  Young 
Men’s  Association  with  library  rooms,  together  with  an  income 
for  its  maintenance,  and  which  will,  no  doubt,  increase  in  value 
materially  during  the  next  few  years.  In  other  words,  in  order 
that  the  Young  Men’s  Association  may  thus  become  the  owner 


24 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


of  property  valued  at  $185,000,  to  be  devoted  entirely  to  the 
public  benefit,  it  is  necessary  that  the  Young  Men’s  Association 
shall  secure  by  donation  the  sum  of  $45,000. 

We  believe  that  the  plan  thus  proposed,  if  approved  of  by  you, 
is  entirely  practicable,  and  if  carried  out  in  the  material  points 
will  result  in  the  great  public  benefit  such  as  has  been  conceived 
by  Judge  Parker. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Wm.  P.  Rudd, 

John  Templeton, 

J.  Townsend  Lansing, 
Charles  J.  Buchanan, 
Harmon  P.  Read, 
Edmund  L.  Judson. 

Dated  Albany,  N.  Y.,  March  9,  1887. 


Nothing  of  importance  was,  however,  done  toward  raising  the 
amount  of  money  requisite  to  enable  the  Association  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  the  gift,  until  the  5th  of  October,  1887,  when  a joint 
meeting  of  the  trustees  and  managers  was  held,  and  plans  for 
raising  the  $50,000  required  were  carefully  considered.  As  a 
result  of  this  meeting,  a committee  of  Five  was  appointed  to 
name  a committee  of  Fifty  who  should  commence  at  once  the 
work  of  securing  subscriptions.  At  the  next  meeting,  the 
names  of  the  following  gentlemen  were  presented  as  such  com- 
mittee : 


Board  of  Managers. 


Eugene  Brumaghim, 
S.  Ed.  Miller,  Jr., 

Gr.  James  Greene, 
Frank  Van  Derzee, 
Chas.  J.  Buchanan, 
Thos.  F.  Wilkinson, 
Samuel  0.  Wooster, 
Dan’l  A.  Lawler, 
James  W.  Ten  Eyck, 


Chas.  B.  Dunham, 
Henry  E.  Mereness, 
Curtiss  N.  Douglas, 
Fred.  Easton, 

Edw.  McClaskey, 
Wm.  H.  King, 
Lansing  B.  Winne, 
Thompson  L.  Craig, 
Wm.  H.  Smith. 


Board  of  Trustees. 


Erastus  Corning, 
Henry  R.  Pierson, 

John  H.  Van  Antwerp, 
Dudley  Olcott, 


Maurice  E.  Viele, 
Amasa  J.  Parker,  J r., 
Wm.  P.  Rudd. 


YOUNG  MENS  ASSOCIATION 


25 


John  Boyd  Thacher, 
Archibald  McClure, 
J.  Howard  King, 
Thos.  McCredie, 
Dean  Sage, 

Edmund  L.  Judson, 
Wm.  Deyermand, 
Grange  Sard, 

Chas.  L.  Pruyn, 

Oren  E.  Wilson, 
Richard  L.  Annesley, 
Arthur  L.  Andrews, 
Albert  Hessberg, 


Citizens . 

Wm.  H.  Haskell, 

H.  S.  Van  Santvoord, 
Willis  G.  Nash, 

Geo.  E.  Oliver, 

G.  Henry  Secor, 
Harmon  P.  Read, 

M.  B.  Sherman, 

A.  Rhodes  Armington, 
Wm.  E.  Scott, 

Jas.  H.  Manning, 

J.  Irving  Wendell, 

T.  J.  Williams. 


Eugene  Brumaghim  was  chosen  Chairman,  and  Dr.  Lansing 
B.  Winne,  Secretary  of  this  committee.  Active  work  was  at  once 
begun;  but  the  committee  found  it  difficult  to  obtain  sub- 
scriptions. The  work  was  progressing,  however,  too  slowly  to 
insure  success  before  January  1,  1888,  the  limit  of  time  allowed 
by  Judge  Parker  for  the  Association  to  avail  itself  of  his  offer. 
Something  was  necessary  to  arouse  the  citizens  of  Albany  to  the 
fact  that  this  munificent  gift  was  fast  slipping  away  from  them. 
At  a meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Fifty,  held  at  the  library 
rooms  December  8,  1887,  it  was  decided  to  call  a public  meeting 
of  the  citizens  of  Albany,  to  devise  means  to  raise  the  amount 
required.  A committee  for  that  purpose  was  appointed,  which 
accordingly  issued  the  following  circular  : 

“Albany,  N.  Y.,  December  8,  1887. 

“ Dear  Sir  — The  contributions  for  the  public  hall  project 
aggregate  only  $15,500,  or  considerably  less  than  one-third  of 
the  $50,000  required  to  enable  the  Young  Men’s  Association  to 
avail  itself  of  the  ‘ Bleecker  Fund.’  Only  three  weeks  remain 
for  the  Association  to  secure  this  fund. 

It  has  been  suggested  that  a public  meeting  might  arouse 
the  citizens  of  Albany,  and  stimulate  them  to  the  necessity  of 
prompt  action  in  regard  to  this  enterprise.  Such  a meeting  has 
been  called  for  eight  o’clock  p.,  m.,  the  14th  inst.,  at  the  Common 
4 


26 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


Council  chamber,  in  the  City  Hall.  It  is  earnestly  requested 
that  you  attend  this  meeting,  and,  by  your  presence,  aid  in 
furthering  this  measure. 

Nothing  but  immediate  action  will  be  of  the  slightest  avail. 

Respectfully  yours, 

Charles  J.  Buchanan, 
Albert  Hessberg, 

Oren  E.  Wilson, 

William  P.  Ritdd, 

Eugene  Brumaghim 

Committee.” 

At  this  public  meeting,  held  December  14,  1887,  Mayor  John 
Boyd  Thacher  presided;  John  W.  McNamara  was  appointed 
Secretary.  Judge  Parker  plainly  and  concisely  stated  the 
amount  and  condition  of  the  “ Bleecker  Fund;”  his  motives  in 
giving  it  to  the  Association,  and  the  benefits  likely  to  result, 
both  to  it,  and  to  the  city,  on  account  of  the  gift. 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted  at  this  meeting: 

Resolved , That  a committee  of  five  persons,  of  which  the 
mayor  of  Albany  shall  be  chairman,  be  appointed  with  full 
power  to  confer  and  arrange  with  Judge  Parker  as  to  the  pro- 
posed giving  by  him  of  the  “Bleecker  fund”  to  the  Young 
Men’s  Association,  and  to  make  such  other  arrangements  relative 
thereto,  and  to  the  raising  of  the  additional  sum  of  $50,000,  or 
any  part  thereof,  by  the  citizens  of  Albany,  as  it  may  deem 
proper  and  expedient. 

Said  committee  to  be  appointed  by  the  chairman  of  this  meet- 
ing on  or  before  the  17th  inst. 

Mayor  Thacher,  as  directed  by  the  above  resolution,  appointed 
as  such  committee  Messrs.  John  Boyd  Thacher,  Archibald  Mc- 
Clure, Dudley  Olcott,  Dean  Sage,  and  J.  Howard  King.  On 
December  17,  1887,  this  committee  published  in  the  daily  papers 
of  the  city  the  following  appeal  to  the  citizens  of  Albany  : 

To  the  Citizens  of  Albany  : 

Harmanus  Bleecker  left  an  estate  of  about  $80,000  to  John 
Y.  L.  Pruyn  in  trust,  to  be  used  for  the  benefit  of  the  city  of 
Albany  as  the  latter,  or  his  successor,  might  deem  proper. 

Mr.  Pruyn  delegated  the  execution  of  this  trust  to  Judge 
Amasa  J.  Parker. 


YOUNG  MENS  ASSOCIATION. 


2 7 


This  property  now  amounts  to  about  $130,000,  and  consists  of 
the  real  estate  at  present  occupied  in  part  by  the  Young  Men's 
Association,  two  lots  on  the  pier,  and  also  the  lots  on  Washington 
avenue,  pnrchased  by  Judge  Parker  for  the  erection  of  a pub- 
lic hall,  and  in  government  bonds  and  railroad  securities,  all  of 
which  are  above  par. 

It  is  optional  with  Judge  Parker,  by  the  terms  of  his  trust,  to 
what  Albany  institution  or  institutions  he  gives  this  property. 

Because  of  the  usefulness  of  the  Young  Men's  Association, 
and  because  it  is  the  city’s  nearest  approach  to  a public  library, 
Judge  Parker  offers  to  give  this  entire  property  to  the  Associa- 
tion, if  the  citizens  will  raise  $50,000,  the  full  control  of  which 
and  of  the  Harmanus  Bleecker  fund  shall  be  vested  in  the  life 
trustees  of  the  Young  Men’s  Association,  at  present  consisting 
of  Erastus  Corning,  Henry  R.  Pierson,  Dudley  Olcott,  John  H. 
Van  Antwerp,  Maurice  E.  Yiele,  Amasa  J.  Parker,  Jr.,  William 
P.  Rudd  and  the  president,  vice-president,  and  treasurer  of  the 
Young  Men’s  Association,  and  the  president  of  the  Albany  Insti- 
tute, ex  officio. 

The  only  condition  he  imposes  upon  the  Association  is  the  rais- 
ing of  this  $50,000  by  subscription  on  or  before  January  3,  1888. 

The  subscriptions  need  not  be  paid  before  May  1,  1888. 

The  $50,000  to  be  subscribed  is  to  be  used  in  the  building  of 
a public  hall  of  the  capacity  of  two  thousand  five  hundred. 

By  subscribing  this  $50,000,  the  people  of  Albany  will  receive 
a property  worth  about  $180,000. 

The  Association  will  derive  the  income  of  the  most  of  the 
fund,  which  will  be  invested  for  that  purpose. 

Is  not  this  a good  business  investment  for  Albany,  and  one  of 
which  it  should  promptly  avail  itself? 

The  Association  has  for  the  last  thirteen  years  received  sub- 
stantial assistance  by  way  of  a low  rental  from  the  Bleecker  fund. 

Unless  this  $50,000  is  raised  by  January  1,  1888,  the  prestige 
of  the  Young  Men’s  Association  is  gone  and  its  days  are  num- 
bered. 

If  this  money  is  not  raised  promptly  the  Association  will  be 
obliged  to  vacate  its  present  quarters,  which  means  the  death  of 
this  old  institution. 

If  this  money  is  raised  it  will  put  the  Association  upon  a 
sound,  reliable  basis,  and  its  power  to  do  good  will  be  multiplied 
beyond  expression. 

The  generosity  of  Albany  was  never  invoked  in  behalf  of  a 
better  enterprise.  Albany  has  lost  a great  deal  of  money  by  not 
having  a public  hall,  and  this  is  the  cheapest  and  most  feasible 
way  ever  offered  to  procure  it. 

Is  Albany  willing  to  lose  this  great  and  lasting  benefit  by  fail- 
ing to  raise  the  comparatively  small  sum  of  $50,000,  which  will 


28 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


make  permanent  the  Young  Men's  Association,  and  secure  a 
public  hall  which  will  be  both  an  ornament  and  a source  of  reve- 
nue to  the  city?  Twenty  thousand  dollars  of  the  $50,000  re- 
quired has  already  been  subscribed. 

Subscriptions  for  the  remaining  $30,000  can  be  sent  to  Dudley 
Olcott,  treasurer,  or  to  any  member  of  the  committee. 

The  committee,  or  persons  representing  them,  will  solicit  for 
further  subscriptions  immediately. 

John  Boyd  Thacher, 
Archibald  McClure, 

Dean  Sage, 

Dudley  Olcott, 

Onm  vy)  iifpp 

Dated  Albany,  N.  Y.,  December  17,  1887. 

Meetings  were  held  daily  at  the  mayor's  office  from  this  time. 
Subscriptions  were  solicited  by  all  the  committees  hereinafter 
mentioned,  and  flowed  in  freely.  The  fund,  amounting  to  $16,000 
December  17,  1887,  was  so  increased,  until,  on  the  31st  of  De- 
cember, it  approximated  $54,000.  On  the  evening  of  December 
31st,  a committee  consisting  of  Messrs.  Brumagliim,  Rudd 
and  Buchanan,  was  appointed  by  the  mayor  to  inform  Judge 
Parker  that  the  subscription  had  been  raised.  Judge  Par- 
ker stated  to  this  committee  that  he  was  much  gratified  at  the 
result,  and  remarked  that  he  would  formally  announce  to  the 
Association  his  acceptance  of  its  action  in  raising  the  money,  in 
accordance  with  his  original  proposition  to  it.  On  the  2d  of 
January,  1888,  Judge  Parker  sent  the  following  communication 
to  the  President  of  the  Association: 

“ Albany,  January  2,  1888. 
“Mr.  Eugene  Brumaghim,  President,  etc.: 

“ Dear  Sir.  — Having  been  notified  by  you  that  the  sum  of 
$50,000  has  been  subscribed  toward  the  building  of  the  pro- 
posed ‘ Public  Hall,'  I state  that  I am  now  ready  to  convey 
to  the  Young  Men’s  Association,  the  real  property  now  held 
by  lease  from  me,  and  to  pay  over  to  the  treasurer  of  the 
life  trustees  of  your  Association,  the  sum  of  $40,000,  as  agreed. 
There  will  be  some  little  delay  in  my  conveying  the  land  on  which 
the  hall  is  to  be  erected,  consequent  upon  the  substituting  of 
new  lots  for  those  taken  for  the  armory.  I trust,  however,  the 
proceedings  to  condemn  the  lots  taken  for  the  armory  will  soon 
be  completed. 


YOUNG  MENS  ASSOCIATION. 


29 


The  property  conveyed  to  the  Association  will  be  conveyed  by 
absolute  deeds,  and  will  not  be  incumbered  with  any  conditions 
subsequent  as  to  the  use  to  be  made  of  it,  which  might  cause » 
hereafter  a question  of  title.  I rely,  however,  with  entire  con- 
fidence, on  the  understanding  reached  after  full  consultation 
with  the  life  trustees  of  your  Association,  that  there  shall  he  no 
unnecessary  delay  in  their  proceeding  to  erect  on  the  land  con- 
veyed, a hall  for  public  use,  upon  the  ground  floor,  capable  of 
seating  2,500  persons,  with  not  more  than  one  gallery,  with  pas- 
sage ways  on  the  outside  of  each  side  of  the  building,  and  with 
doors  opening  outward  on  every  side,  so  that  in  case  of  fire  or 
panic  the  hall  could  be  emptied  with  absolute  safety  in  a few 
minutes  ; no  building  to  be  erected  on  the  land  nearer  to  the 
north  side  of  Washington  avenue,  than  twenty-eight  feet,  and  the 
hall  to  be  constructed  of  such  material  as  shall  make  it  as  nearly 
fire  proof  as  the  means  furnished  will  allow. 

I am  sure  all  will  agree,  as  did  the  life  trustees  in  my  confer- 
ence with  them,  that  there  shall  be  chiseled  over  the  front  door, 
the  words  ‘ Harmanus  Bleecker  Hall/  It  will  thus  be  made  an 
enduring  monument  to  the  memory  of  the  generous  donor. 

It  is  confidently  believed  by  those  who  have  considered  the 
subject,  that,  with  the  funds  now  provided,  the  best  public  hall 
in  the  State  can  be  erected,  and  one  which  wfill  attract  to  it  fre- 
quent and  large  audiences  in  the  future,  and  lead  to  the  selection 
of  this  city  as  the  best  place  for  large  conventions. 

It  was  also  understood  in  my  conference  with  the  life  mem- 
bers, that  the  means  of  the  Association  derived  as  well  from  the 
avails  of  this  hall  as  from  the  other  land  conveyed  to  it,  shall  be 
used  for  the  establishing  of  one  or  more  free  public  libraries  for 
the  benefit  of  the  citizens  of  Albany. 

The  business  interests  of  the  city  of  Albany  will  be  largely 
promoted  by  the  use  of  the  public  hall,  and  the  intellectual  im- 
provement of  the  citizens,  by  the  library  ; and  the  city  will  thus 
be  doubly  benefited  by  the  proposed  application  of  the  funds. 

I believe  that  in  the  disposition  I have  made  of  the  funds,  I 
have  carried  out  the  well  known  wishes  of  Mr.  Bleecker,  as  ex- 
pressed during  the  last  years  of  his  life.  He  was  a man  of  broad 
and  liberal  views,  and  he  desired  that  the  gift,  when  applied, 
should  be  made  to  promote,  as  far  as  possible,  the  interests  of  all 
the  citizens  of  the  city  of  Albany. 

It  is  in  accordance  with  these  views,  that  the  Young  Men’s 
Association  has  been  selected  as  the  object  of  Mr.  Bleecker’s 
bounty.  Your  Association  represents  all  the  people  of  the  city. 
It  includes  within  its  folds  all  sects,  all  parties,  all  nationalities. 
All  share  in  its  labors  and  in  its  benefits.  All  combine  their 
efforts  for  mutual  improvement,  and  for  intellectual  and  moral 
advancement.  This  is  in  every  respect  in  accordance  with  the 


30 


HISTOR  V OF  THE 


policy  on  which  our  government  was  established,  that  of  absolute 
equality  of  political  right,  and  of  entire  independence  and  full 
protection  of  the  rights  of  conscience,  without  both  of  which 
our  government  would  be  a failure.  Membership,  activity  and 
interest  in  your  Association  involve  no  surrender  of  personal 
belief  or  of  convictions  of  duty;  but  they  tend,  by  bringing  per- 
sons who  differ  into  such  friendly  intercourse,  to  break  down 
the  walls  of  bigotry  and  prejudice  which  too  often  separate  sects 
and  parties,  and  to  promote  feelings  of  toleration  and  respect 
and  habits  of  courtesy  towards  those  from  whom  we  differ.  In 
short,  such  intercourse  between  the  young  men  of  your  Asso- 
ciation, with  the  improvement  thus  secured  to  them,  goes  far  to 
prepare  them  for  the  high  and  sacred  duties  of  citizenship  which 
will  soon  devolve  on  them. 

Our  hope  for  the  future  is  in  the  young  men  of  the  country. 
Upon  them  we  must  depend  for  defending  the  principles  to  which 
I have  referred,  without  which  our  government  would  be 
worthless. 

That  Mrs.  Bleecker,  who  so  honorably  surrendered  the  property 
to  carry  out  the  wishes  of  her  husband,  when  she  was  not  legally 
bound  to  do  so,  wouid  approve  what  I have  done,  is  placed 
beyond  all  question,  by  the  fact  that  she  consented  some  years 
ago  to  the  renting  of  the  real  estate  by  Mr.  Pruyn  to  your  Asso- 
ciation for  a much  less  rent  than  could  have  been  otherwise 
obtained,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  promoting  the  objects  of  your 
institution,  thus  disinterestedly  lessening  her  own  income  to 
help  sustain  your  Association. 

In  the  sincere  hope  that  great  good  may  be  accomplished  by 
what  we  have  done  and  with  thanks,  as  a citizen,  for  your 
energetic  and  successful  efforts.  I am. 

Very  truly  yours,  etc., 

# Amasa  J.  Parker. 

Judge  Parker,  on  January  7,  1888,  transferred  the  entire 
“ Bleecker  Fund”  to  the  Association. 

Upon  the  10th  of  January,  the  Board  of  Managers  adopted 
the  following  resolutions: 

Whereas,  Harmanus  Bleecker,  a former  resident  of  Albany, 
left  a large  estate,  aggregating  about  $80,000,  giving  his  wife  a 
life  interest  in  the  same,  and  requesting  that  she  make  the  city 
of  Albany  or  some  of  its  institutions  the  beneficiary  of  this 
property  after  her  death.  Knowing  the  affection  which  her 
husband  had  for  Albany,  and  both  respecting  and  sharing  his 
wishes  relative  to  the  final  vesting  of  his  estate  for  the  benefit  of 
the  same,  the  wife  conveyed  the  property  in  trust  to  the  late 


YOUNG  MENS  ASSOCIATION 


3i 


John  Y.  L.  Pruyn,  who,  in  turn,  delegated  the  final  execution 
and  fulfilment  of  the  trust  to  Judge  Amasa  J.  Parker. 

Under  both  deeds  of  conveyance  it  was  left  entirely  optional 
with  the  trustees  when,  how  and  to  what  institution  the  property 
should  go. 

After  Mrs.  Coster  (formerly  Mrs.  Harmanus  Bleecker)  died, 
Judge  Parker,  because  of  the  usefulness  and  catholicity  of  the 
Young  Men’s  Association,  and  because  of  its  being  Albany’s 
nearest  approach  to  a public  library,  offered  to  give  the  entire 
Bleecker  property,  amounting  by  judicious  management  to 
about  $130,000,  to  the  Association  upon  the  sole  condition  that 
it  would  raise  the  additional  sum  of  $50,000  on  or  before  Janu- 
ary 1,  1888,  to  be  used,  together  with  a part  of  the  trust  estate, 
to  build  a public  hall,  the  full  use  and  control  of  which,  and  of 
the  Bleecker  fund,  should  be  vested  in  the  life  trustees  of  the 
Association  for  its  individual  benefit  and  advantage. 

The  remainder  of  the  fund  not  used  for  the  building  of  the 
hall  is  to  be  invested  for  the  benefit  of  the  Association. 

The  Association,  for  the  last  thirteen  years,  has  received  sub- 
stantial assistance  by  way  of  low  rentals  from  the  Bleecker 
property,  its  present  home,  without  which  it  would  have  been 
seriously  embarrassed  and  its  usefulness  thereby  impaired. 

The  citizens  of  Albany  and  others  have  generously  subscribed 
nearly  $56,000  to  enable  the  Association  to  accept  Judge 
Parker’s  magnanimous  offer. 

The  entire  Bleecker  estate  has  been  turned  over  to  the  Asso- 
ciation, thus  placing  it  upon  a sound  and  reliable  basis  and 
thereby  increasing  its  power  to  do  good  and  to  benefit  the  public 
generally. 

Therefore , Cherishing  the  memories  and  holding  in  grateful 
remembrance  the  munificent  generosity  of  both  Harmanus 
Bleecker  and  his  wife,  it  is 

Resolved , That  the  thanks  and  gratitude  of  the  Young  Men’s 
Association  be  and  hereby  are  extended  to  Judge  Amasa  J. 
Parker  for  his  gift  to  it  of  the  Bleecker  fund. 

That  we  hereby  make  our  grateful  acknowledgments  to 
the  citizens  of  Albany,  and  to  all  others  who  have  subscribed 
and  aided  in  the  securing  for  the  Association  of  the  Bleecker 
Fund. 

That  whilst  we  ignore  no  efforts  nor  assistance  from  any 
source  whatsoever,  and  disclaiming  any  intent  to  make  invidious 
distinction  or  reference  to  any  individual  actions  in  our  behalf, 
we  feel  that  to  the  labors  of  the  newspapers  of  our  city  and  of 
John  Boyd  Thacher,  mayor  of  Albany,  we  are  largely  indebted 
for  the  success  of  our  undertaking  to  raise  this  sum  which 
has  placed  the  “Bleecker  fund”  at  our  disposal  and  to  our 
benefit. 


32 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


That  to  all  and  every  of  the  persons  who  have  subscribed  to 
said  sum  $50  or  upwards,  the  usual  life  membership  certificates 
be  issued  upon  their  paying  their  several  subscriptions. 

That  the  foregoing  be  entered  upon  the  minutes,  published  in 
the  daily  newspapers,  and  that  the  president  of  the  Association 
inform  Judge  Parker  and  Mayor  Thacher  individually  and 
expressly  in  writing  of  our  acknowledgments  to  them  for  their 
distinguished  offices  in  our  behalf. 

On  the  evening  of  December  31,  1887,  a concert  was  given  in 
Union  Hall  in  aid  of  the  “ Public  Hall  Fund,”  the  hall  having 
been  donated  by  the  Young  Men’s  Catholic  Union.  The  follow- 
ing programme  was  carried  out  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  F. 
W.  Mills,  organist  of  St.  Peter’s  Church  : 

PART  I. 


Chorus — “The  Stars  that  above  Us  are  Shining” Weber 

St.  Peter’s  Church  Choir. 

Duett  — “ Crucifix  ” Faure 

Messrs.  Ernest  D.  Sweet  and  Edward  McClaskey. 

Contralto  Solo  — ‘ ‘ The  Proposal  ” Strelezki 

Miss  Gertrude  Stein. 

Tenor  Solo  — Mignon Thomas 

Mr.  James  J.  Beresford. 

Heading,  “ The  Chariot  Race,”  from  “Ben  Hur” Wallace 

Miss  Agnes  H.  Davison. 

Aria  — Posa  la  Roca Marchesi 

Mrs.  W.  J.  Bentley. 

Baritone  Solo  — “ Storm  and  Sunshine  ” Buck 

Mr.  E.  A.  Kellogg. 

Pool  + o+iAn  ((  Th A Pnvninn'  Qhir\  J * AyT o"\T onn-ldon 


Mr.  Thomas  J.  Lanahan. 

Cornet  Solo  — Fantasie Hartman 

Mr.  D.  H.  Stubblebein. 

PART  II. 

Bridal  Chorus — “ The  Rose  Maiden  ” Cowan 

St.  Peter’s  Church  Choir. 

Soprano  Solo Selected 

Mrs.  0.  C.  Shafer. 

Bass  Solo — “ Will  o’  the  Wisp” Cherry 

Mr.  Townsend  Fellows. 

Contralto  Solo — “ Where  the  Lindens  Bloom” Buck 

Miss  Augusta  A.  Lewi. 

Reading,  “Jem’s  Last  Ride” Anon. 

Miss  Theresa  F.  Smith. 

Aria  — Flower  Song  (Faust) Gounod 

Mrs.  R.  J.  Doolan. 

Recitation,  “ Dandy  Fifth Gassaway 

Mr.  Eugene  Brumaghim. 

Chorus  — We  are  Singers,  Singing  Blithely Rossini 

St.  Peter’s  Church  Choir. 


YOUNG  MENS  ASSOCIATION \ 


33 


The  committee  is  under  obligations  to  Messrs.  Cluett  & Sons 
for  the  Stein  way  concert  grand  piano  used  on  this  occasion;  to 
Frank  0.  Green  for  the  removal  of  the  same  to  and  from  the 
hall;  also,  to  John  Ebel,  R.  G.  Wilbur,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Harris, 
for  the  use  of  carriages.  The  services  of  all  participants  were 
given  gratuitously. 

In  order  to  awaken  a general  interest  and  to  systematize  the 
work,  the  following  committees  were  named  to  canvass  the  busi- 
ness interests,  trades  and  professions,  and  to  their  work  is  due 
a great  deal  of  the  credit  for  the  success  of  the  subscription  : 

Insurance  — W.  W.  Byington,  R.  Y.  Dewitt,  Thomas  Austin, 
Max  Kurth,  T.  J.  Williams. 

Banks  — I.  D.  F.  Lansing,  Thomas  W.  Cantwell,  Henry  W. 
Garfield,  William  Bruce,  Benj.  R.  Spelman,  Jr.,  Willis  G. 
Nash. 

The  Press — James  H.  Manning  and  George  B.  Gallup,  The 
Argus  ; John  A.  Sleicher  and  Thomas  Sammons,  the  Journal ; 
S.  N.  D.  North  and  John  D.  Whish,  the  Express;  John  H.  Far- 
rell and  H.  W.  Smith,  the  Press  and  Knickerbocker;  T.  0. 
Callicott  and  H.  P.  Phelps,  the  Evening  Times;  F.  W.  White 
and  G.  E.  Graham,  the  Union;  R.  M.  Griffin  and  Montgomery 
Griffin,  the  Post;  August  Miggael,  the  Freie  Blaetter;  Jacob 
Heinmiller,  the  Herold. 

Public  Officers  — William  G.  Rice,  Andrew  S.  Draper,  Elliot 
Danforth,  W.  H.  Terrell,  William  H.  Haskell. 

Trades  and  Labor  Organizations  — Thomas  J.  Dowling. 
Lawyers  — Chas.  J.  Buchanan,  Albert  Hessberg,  Arthur  L. 
Andrews,  Thos.  F.  Wilkinson,  Wm.  P.  Rudd,  Wm.  H.  King. 

Physicians  and  Druggists  — Henry  E.  Mereness,  L.  B.  Winne, 
Wm.  E.  Scott,  Charles  H.  Gaus,  Herman  Bendell. 

Grocers , Wholesale  and  Retail — Chas.  B.  Dunham,  Fred.  A. 
Sarauw,  Samfi  C.  Wooster,  Wm.  H.  Smith,  G.  James  Greene. 

Hotels  and  Boarding  Houses  — M.  B.  Sherman,  S.  Ed.  Miller, 
Jr.,  Frank  Yanderzee,  James  W.  Ten  Eyck,  G.  Henry  Secor. 

Livery  Stables , Carriage  Builders,  Feed  Stores  and  Harness 
Makers  — Dr.  Edward  Moore,  Geo.  L.  Russell,  R.  G.  Wilbur,  A. 
R.  Armington,  John  H.  Quinby. 

Lumber  Dealers  — Dean  Sage,  H.  S.  Yan  Santvoord,  Curtis 
N.  Douglas,  Thompson  S.  Craig,  Fred.  Easton,  Daniel  A. 
Lawler. 

Coal  Dealers  — Yreeland  H.  Youngman,  chairman;  John  G. 
Burch,  Francis  N.  Sill,  William  McEwan  and  T.  C.  Rafferty. 

5 


34 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


Musical  Profession  — Ed.  McClaskey,  C.  Edgar  Wendell, 
Townsend  H.  Fellows,  John  L.  Gartland  and  Frank  Yanderzee. 

Railroad  Offices — Charles  S.  Pease,  Will.  L.  Lloyd,  James  W. 
Hutt,  John  L.  Van  Valkenburg,  Charles  Y.  Winne  and  E.  E. 
French. 

Clergy  — Rev.  Dr.  Walton  W.  Battershall,  Rev.  A.  V.  Y.  Ray- 
mond, Rev.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman,  Rev.  Albert  Foster,  Rev.  Dr. 
Wesley  R.  Davis,  Rev.  Fathers  E.  A.  Terry,  John  Hanlon  and  T. 
M.  A.  Burke,  Rev.  II.  A.  Starks,  Rev.  Dr.  Max  Schlessinger, 
Rev.  Dr.  Smart,  Rev.  C.  L.  Jackson,  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers,  Rev. 
Geo.  W.  Miller  and  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  M.  King. 

Masonic  Societies  — Hon.  Edmund  L.  Judson. 

G.  A.  R.  Posts — Stephen  P.  Corliss. 

Knights  of  Pythias  — John  C.  Nott,  John  J.  Acker. 

I.  0.  0.  F.  Lodges  — Fred.  W.  Cole. 

Military — Col.  Wm.  E.  Fitch. 

A.  o.  U.  W.—  S.  Y.  B.  Swann,  Chas.  W.  Mead. 

Hebrew  Societies  — K.  A.  Illch. 

St.  Andrew’s  Society  — Peter  Kinnear. 

St.  George’s  Society  — Edward  Ogden. 


Board  of  Aldermen. 

Patrick  McCann,  President. 

Patrick  McCann,  Galen  R.  Hitt,  At  Large. 


Ward. 

1st.  Fred.  W.  Klaar. 

2d.  Chris.  Fleming. 

3d.  Wm.  A.  Donah oe. 
4th.  James  Lyons, 

5th.  James  0.  Woodward. 
6th.  Geo.  L.  Thomas. 

7th.  Chas.  E.  Yan  Zandt. 
8th.  Thomas  J.  Judge. 
9th.  Michael  F.  Connors. 


Ward. 

10th.  Fred.  Stackman. 

11th.  Howard  N.  Fuller. 
12th.  Arthur  F.  Corscadden. 
13th.  Wm.  H.  Bailey. 

14th.  David  J.  Horton. 

15th.  John  J.  Greagan. 

16th.  Richard  Hunter. 

17th.  Jeremiah  Harris,  Jr. 


YOUNG  MENS  ASSOCIATION. 


35 


LIST  OF  SUBSCRIBERS. 


Ackerman,  Gilbert  H 

$20 

00 

Bacon,  Stickney  & Co 

$250 

Acker,  John  J 

5 

00 

Banks,  A.  Bleecker 

200 

Adams,  Fred.  H 

5 

00 

Barnes,  William 

100 

African  M.  E.  Church  ... 

9 

26 

Barnes,  William,  Jr 

50 

Agne,  John  

1 

00 

Barnes,  Thurlow  Weed. . . 

100 

Agar,  J.  G 

50 

Battershall,  Rev,  W.  W. . 

25 

Ahern,  James  E 

5 

00 

Bailey,  John  M 

25 

Albany  Railway 

500 

00 

Bailly,  John  P 

25 

Albany  County  Peniten- 

Bates,  Edward  F 

15 

tiary,  Officers 

100 

00 

Barnet  Bros 

25 

Albany  Card  & Paper  Co.  . 

100 

00 

Barnett,  Abram 

15 

Albany  City  Lodge,  No.  68. 

10 

00 

Babcock,  Shannon  & Co. . . 

25 

Albany  High  School 

451 

45 

Barbers’  Assembly 

25 

Albany  Public  Schools. . . . 

682 

14 

Ball,  Dayton 

50 

Albanian  Lodge,  No.  102, 

Ball,  Dr.  O.  D 

10 

I.  0.  S.  B 

10 

00 

Barber  & Bennett 

25 

Albany  Insurance  Co 

100 

00 

Backus,  Philo  H 

10 

Albany  City  Band 

20 

00 

Balch,  Dr.  Lewis  H 

10 

Alex,  F.  & Bro 

5 

00 

Bartlett,  Dr.  E.  Albert .... 

10 

Alvord,  William 

100 

00 

Baker,  Charles  K. 

5 

Amsdell,  George  I 

250 

00 

Baker,  Guy  E 

1 

Amsdell.  George  H 

10 

00 

Baumes,  James  R 

3 

Amsdell,  James  A 

10 

00 

Ballin,  S 

10 

Ames,  F.  Le  Grand 

25 

00 

Barrow,  C.  C 

Annesley,  Richard  L 

100 

00 

Baxter,  Dr.  Edwin  C 

25 

Andrews,  Arthur  L 

25 

00 

B , F.  W 

Andrews,  Buel  C 

10 

00 

Belding,  Prof.  Sam’l  B. . . . 

5 

Andrews,  Wm.  D.  & Bro. . 

10 

00 

Benedict,  Ezra 

100 

Andrews,  Charles  B 

10 

00 

Benedict,  Geo.  C 

5 

Andrews,  Horace 

10 

00 

Benedict,  Mrs.  M.  L 

100 

Anteman,  William  F 

5 

00 

Benedict,  Lew,  Post  5,  G. 

Angle,  Clarence  B 

5 

00 

A.  R 

25 

Anable,  Henry  B 

5 

00 

Benedict,  Lew,  Woman’s 

Appleton,  Mrs.  William  . . 

500 

00 

Relief  Corps 

10 

Appleton,  Mrs.  Wm.,  Jr.. 

25 

00 

Beckford,  C.  A 

10 

Argus  Company 

200 

00 

Bentley,  Chas.  W 

10 

Armatage,  C.  H 

10 

00 

Bedell,  Edwin  A 

10 

Arnon  Lodge,  No.  64,  F.  S. 

Beecher,  Chas.  E 

2 

of  L 

10 

00 

Behan,  Thomas 

1 

Armington,  A.  R 

5 

00 

Becker,  William  L 

2 

Ashe,  John  E. . . . 

10 

00 

Beresford,  Thomas  H 

2 

Austin  & Woolverton 

25 

00 

Bensen,  Albert  V 

100 

Austin,  C.  D 

5 

00 

Bensen,  Mrs.  Albert  V. . . . 

25 

Auer,  John 

1 

00 

Bensen,  Bertie 

5 

Auer,  Louis 

3 

00 

Becker,  Frederick 

10 

oo 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

25 

00 

50 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 


36 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


Beutler,  Wm.  F $ 5 

Binai  Mordeckai  Lodge  No. 

96 10 

Birchall,  Geo.  H 3 

Blair,  Burr  D 25 

Blackburn,  J.  T.  D 10 

Blackburn,  J.  and  W. . . . 5 

Blocksidge,  James 10 

Bleecker,  G.  V.  S 5 

Block,  Edward 2 

Blackall,  Robt.  C 15 

Blair,  Elmer 5 

Blatner,  Henry 5 

Blatner  Bros 5 

Blossom,  Edward  F 10 

Blakeslee,  W,  N 2 

Black,  J.  Francis 5 

Bowditcli,  Edward 100 

Bouton  & Vine 10 

Bougkton,  Edith,  Eddie 

and  Ethel ...  10 

Bovlan,  R.  J 10 

Bowe,  John 10 

Boyle,  Henry  J 5 

Bowman,  C.  W 1 

Bowman,  Mrs.  Libbie. ...  1 

Bowman,  Nelson  C 1 

Bowman,  Ida  L 1 

Bowman,  Florence 1 

Bochlowitz,  Herman 5 

Boyd,  Dr.  James  P 25 

Brady,  Anthony  N 500 

Brumaghim,  Eugene 50 

Bradstreet’s  Agency 50 

Bronk,  Edward 10 

Brennan,  Edward 5 

Bradley,  Frank  E 5 

Brandow,  F.  H 2 

Bradford,  William  H 10 

Bruce,  William. . 15 

Bricklayers  and  Masons’ 

Union  No.  6 25 

Brainard  & Shepard 10 

Brass,  Richard  W ...... . 5 

Brooks,  Jonas  H 20 

Bryce,  Robert 25 

Brown,  Samuel  W 10 

Brown,  Alexander  F 25 

Brower,  Walter  S 2 

Brice,  David  N 1 

Brennock,  Wm.  P 1 

Browning,  Howard  L.  ...  100 

Bradt,  F.  M 1 

Brilleman,  Isaac 25 

Burch,  Albert  W 25 

Burdick,  John  W 10 

Bull,  M.  V.  B 50 

Buchanan,  Charles  J 50 


Burton,  Wm.  H $25  00 

Burton  & Corey . 5 00 

Bulkley,  Alpheus  T 25  00 

Burlingame,  Eugene 25  00 

Burke,  Rev.  Thomas  M.  A.  25  00 

Burke,  Meredith  E 10  00 

Burdick,  Guilford  D. . . . . . 15  00 

Burt,  A.  C.  & Co 10  00 

Bunn,  James  H 1 00 

Butler,  W.  B 5 00 

Byington,  Chas.  S 5 00 

Byington,  W.  W 75  00 

Canton  Nemo  Patriarchs.  . 50  00 

Capital  City  Lodge  No.  440, 

1.  O.  O.  F 50  00 

Campbell,  James  A 25  00 

Campbell,  James  S 25  00 

Casey,  Daniel 10  00 

Cantwell,  Thomas  W....  10  00 

Case,  Russell  C 10  00 

Case,  Frank  H ....  5 00 

Carman,  Frederick 10  00 

Carey,  Lawrence 10  00 

Carroll,  J.  Ballard 5 00 

Carroll,  John 5 00 

Cass,  Lewis 5 00 

Cameron,  Fred.  W 5 00 

Caver t,  William  W . 5 00 

Cash 7 60 

Campbell,  S.  A 3 00 

Cash 1 00 

Cash 1 00 

Cash  1 00 

Cash 25  00 

Charlouis,  Prof.  Jean  I..  25  00 

Chase,  Norton.! 25  00 

Chase,  Franklin  N 3 00 

Chapman,  Rev.  J.  Wilbur,  25  00 

Church,  Geo.  W 50  00 

Chatterly,  Addison  R 2 00 

A child 5 00 

Clinton  Lodge  No.  71.  O. 

O.  F 31  00 

Cluett  & Sons 50  00 

Clark,  Wilbur  S 10  00 

Clute,  William  K 10  00 

Clergyman 10  00 

Classen,  Dr.  Fred.  L 5 00 

Clarke,  John 5 00 

Clarke,  John 5 00 

Cleveland  Bros 50  00 

Clark,  Dr.  R.  D 5 00 

Coal  Dealers'  Board  of 

Trade 1,  000  00 

Cottrell  & Leonard 250  00 

Cottrell,  the  Misses 100  00 

Colvin,  Verplanck 100  00 


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00 

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00 


YOUNG 


Collins  Bros 

Cox,  James  W.,  Jr 

Cox,  John 

Cohn,  Mark 

Cohn,  Gilbert 

Cogswell,  Ledyard 

Coughtry  & Eldridge 

Coughtry,  William  H . . . . 

<%  Cook,  William  J 

Corwin,  Chester  D 

Congdon,  William 

Conners,  P.  H 

Cohn,  Jacob 

Countryman,  Charles  E . . 

Cook,  D.  H 

Cooper  & Hoffman 

Cooper,  Thomas  C 

Cooper,  Dr.  T.  C 

Convery,  Wm.  J 

Concert,  Union  Hall 

Company  A,  Tenth  Battal- 
ion  

Company  B,  Tenth  Battal- 
ion  

Company  C,  Tenth  Battal- 
ion   

Company  D,  Tenth  Battal- 
ion   

Commerce  Insurance  Co. . 

Craig,  Thompson  S 

Craft,  Charles  G 

Cross,  James  E 

Croissant,  Martin 

Croissant,  Charles 

Crippen,  Charles  S 

Cregan,  Irving  P 

Cushman,  Paul 

Culver,  Dr.  Chas.  M 

Curtis,  Dr.  Fred.  C 

Cunningham,  William  J.. 

Day,  Charles  E 

Dawson,  George,  Post  63, 

G.  A.  R ... 

Davidson,  Mrs.  Alex 

Davidson,  George  G 

Day,  Edwin  G 

Danforth,  Elliott 

Davis,  John  M 

Dalrymple  & Warner 

Daley,  William 

Davenport,  Samuel  J 

* Deyermand,  William 

Deming,  Philander 

Dewey,  George  W 

D.  & H.  C.  Co.  and  West 

Shore  freight  house  em- 

* ployees 


MENS  ASSOCIATION. 

37 

$25  00 

Dederick,  Aaron  M 

$25  00 

25  00 

De  Witt,  Richard  V 

25  00 

5 00 

Delehanty,  Michael,  & Son, 

25  00 

25  00 

Delehanty,  John  A 

25  00 

5 00 

Delehanty,  Frank  B 

10  00 

25  00 

Dean,  Fred.  A 

10  00 

5 00 

Delaney,  Peter  J 

10  00 

5 00 

De  Freest,  Charles  R 

10  00 

5 00 

Dennison,  Fred.  P 

5 00 

5 00 

Dennison,  Edgar  V 

5 00 

1 00 

De  Wilde,  Philip 

2 00 

5 00 

Delano,  W.  R 

1 00 

10  00 

De  Noyelles,  Chester  B. . . 

3 00 

50  00 

De  Groot,  Chas.  E 

2 00 

10  00 

Dickson,  Walter 

50  00 

10  00 

Doane,  Rev.  Wm.  Croswell 

25  00 

100  00 

Douw,  Miss  D.  M 

50  00 

1 00 

Dorr,  Henry 

50  00 

3 00 

Dobler,  A.  Fred  

50  00 

118  00 

Downing,  George  

10  00 

Doolan,  Richard  J 

10  00 

150  00 

Donovan,  Florence  F 

10  00 

Doyle,  John 

5 00 

100  00 

Doyle,  Wm.  R 

1 00 

Dolan,  Thomas  J 

5 00 

50  00 

Dorn,  George 

5 00 

Douglas,  Mrs.  Sarah  M . . . 

5 00 

25  00 

Dougherty,  Edward  J.  ... 

5 00 

100  00 

Donahoe,  Stephen  F 

1 00 

200  00 

Donahoe,  John  H 

1 00 

100  00 

Domery,  T.,  Jr 

50 

10  00 

Donn,  William 

2 00 

5 00 

Draper,  Andrew  S 

25  00 

1 00 

Drislane,  Wm.  E 

5 00 

5 00 

Durant,  Edward  P 

50  00 

5 00 

Durant,  Edward  A.,  Jr. . . . 

100  00 

200  00 

Dubuque,  Louis  R 

50  00 

20  00 

Dun,  R.  G.  & Co 

50  00 

15  00 

Dunham,  William  J 

25  00 

50  00 

Dunham,  Charles  B 

25  00 

Dugan,  Thomas 

5 00 

50  00 

Dyer,  Bradbury 

10  00 

25  00 

Eastman,  Prosper  L 

100  00 

20  00 

Easton,  Edward 

50  00 

25  00 

Easton,  Frederick 

50  00 

10  00 

Easton,  William 

50  00 

10  00 

Eaton,  James  W 

50  00 

5 00 

Eaton  & Kirch  way: 

25  00 

5 00 

Eagan,  Patrick 

5 00 

1 00 

Earl,  Charles  R 

5 00 

20  00 

East  New  York  Shoe  Co., 

250  00 

Employees 

15  00 

50  00 

Edwards,  Leslie 

2 00 

50  00 

Ehrman,  Ferd 

10  00 

Eichenbronner,  Jacob 

5 00 

Elmendorf,  William  B. . . . 

10  00 

39  00 

Ellis,  Edwin 

10  00 

38 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


Eustace,  Mark  S $10 

Ewing,  Erastus 10 

Eyres,  H.  G.  & Co 10 

Fairfield,  Charles 10 

Farlin,  Dudley 50 

Fames  worth,  John  G 10 

Falke,  Henry 5 

Fay,  James 5 

Fasoldt,  Charles 5 

Fasoldt,  Ernest 1 

Fitzsimmons,  Philip 20 

Fitzgerald’s  Sons 5 

Fish,  Julius  & Bro 5 

Fleischman,  David 20 

Fleming,  William 5 

Fort’s,  P.  V.,  Sons  & Co. . 50 

Fowler,  Dr.  Amos 10 

Foster  & Gove 10 

Fox,  William  F 1 

Fraser,  Lockwood  & Co. . . 25 

Freeman,  William  F 25 

French,  F.  S 

Friend,  “A” 25 

Frank,  Christian 5 

Frothingham,  Walter 25 

Fuller,  Howard  N 10 

Fuller,  Osgood  E 5 

Fuller,  Andrew 5 

Female  Lundy  Society ....  25 

Fellows,  Townsend  H . . . . 5 

Fearey,  Joseph  & Son 50 

Fuller  & Wheeler 500 

Gaus,  Dr.  Charles  H 50 

Gazeley,  James 25 

Gay,  Mrs.  H.  D . . 15 

Gay  & Quinby 100 

Gale,  George  C 10 

Gardner,  Christopher 10 

Gardiner,  James  T 10 

Gass,  James 5 

Gallup,  Byron  W 2 

Gannon,  P.  J 1 

Galligher,  Matilda 10 

Garrity,  John  J 10 

Gartland,  John  L 5 

Geer,  Robert 25 

Gersbach,  Constance 10 

Genter  & Pappalau 5 

Gick  & Sayles 50 

Gibson,  Charles 50 

Gibson,  Robert  W 25 

Gilmour,  Allan 25 

Gilmour,  Neil 10 

Gioth,  Fred 25 

Giles,  Dr.  Henry  W 5 

Gifford,  John  1 5 


Gilliland,  Wm.  C $2  00 

Gideon  Lodge,  No.  140.  . . 50  00 

Gladding,  Daniel  P 50  00 

Gladding,  Mrs.  D.  P 10  00 

Glavin,  John 5 00 

Gleason,  James  M 2 00 

Goold,  James,  Co.,  The. . . 50  00 

Goold,  William  D 10  00 

Gould,  Wm.,  Jr.  & Co. . . . 50  00 

Gould,  Anthony 50  00 

Gould,  Charles  J 10  00 

Gould,  William 10  00 

Gorham,  Dr.  George  E 5 00 

Goffe,  Henry  A 5 00 

Gorman,  Michael  J 5 00 

Goodwin,  Scott  D.  M 25  00 

Gregory,  Clifford  D 50  00 

Gregory,  Mrs.  Clifford  D..  50  00 

Gregory,  George  Steuart. . 10  00 

Gross,  James  H 50  00 

Gross,  Eugene  P 50  00 

Green,  G.  James 50  00 

Greene,  Geo.  K 1 00 

Green,  Ernest  L 1 00 

Greene,  James  A 1 00 

Gray,  James  A 25  00 

Gray,  William  J 5 00 

Gray,  Stephen  R. . . 25  00 

Gray,  James  S 5 00 

Graves,  Anthony  G 5 00 

Graves,  A 5 00 

Groesbeck,  Edward  A . . . . 25  00 

Groesbeck,  James 5 00 

Gregan,  John  J 10  00 

Gremmler,  Frank  A 5 00 

Grogan,  Michael 5 00 

Grqund,  G.  H.  & J.  P 5 00 

Gracie,  Wm.  B 2 00 

Griffin,  T.  A.,  Jr 5 00 

Guthrie,  William  R 10  00 

Guthrie,  Alfred  A 5 00 

Guttman,  John ..  10  00 

Hale,  Matthew 150  00 

Hale,  William  H 5 00 

Havens,  Morton 50  00 

Hatt,  Samuel  S 25  00 

Hall,  Parker 15  00 

Hall,  Lewis  B 25  00 

Harris,  Hamilton 50  00 

Harris,  Frank ...  10  00 

Harris,  Samuel  C 5 00 

Harriott,  Marvin  B 10  00 

Hamilton,  Alfred  S 50  00 

Hamilton,  Andrew 10  00 

Hammond,  C.  D 10  00 

Hammond,  A.  S 1 00 

Hackett,  Edward  F 25  00 


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00 

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00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

50 

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00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

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00 

00 


YOUNG  MENS  ASSOCIATION 


39 


Haight  & Clark $25  00 

Hanlon,  Rev.  John 10  00 

Hartnett,  Daniel  J 10  00 

Halpin,  Daniel  P 10  00 

Hart,  John 5 00 

Hankinson,  S.  R 5 00 

Harrigan,  John 5 00 

Hassell,  Wm.  H 5 00 

Harcourt,  Wm.  K 2 00 

Harcourt,  Geo.  W 25 

Hatton,  N 1 00 

Hawkins,  Philip 50 

Hagaman,  Wm 5 00 

Harper  & W estcott 25  00 

Harper,  Joseph 5 00 

Haskell  & Cleghorn 25  00 

Herrick,  D.  Cady 50  00 

Herrick,  Wm.  C 25  00 

Hendrick,  James 10  00 

Hendrick,  Lawrence  H . . . . 5 00 

Hessberg,  Albert 50  00 

Hessberg,  Samuel 5 00 

Heiser,  Mulilfelder  & Co. , 25  00 

Helmes  Bros 10  00 

Herschberger,  Henry 5 00 

Hein,  Morris 10  00 

Henzel,  Joseph 1 00 

Hinckel  Brewing  Co 100  00 

Hill,  William  J 25  00 

Hill,  David 25  00 

Hill,  Cornelius 5 00 

Hickey,  Michael  M 1 00 

Hines,  John.  1 00 

Hillman,  Joseph 10  00 

Hotaling,  Lansing 50  00 

Hotaling,  Hiram 5 00 

Hobbs,  Edward  A 25  00 

Holler,  Jacob 25  00 

Holliday,  J 2 00 

Horton,  Wallace  N 25  00 

Horton,  E 50 

Holmes,  Alex.  M 10  00 

Holland  Bros 5 00 

Howell,  Geo.  R 5 00 

Honig,  Wm 1 00 

Hoyt,  W.  E 2 00 

Hoffman,  John 25  00 

Hoos,  W atson  J 2 00 

Hovey,  James  0 5 00 

Hough,  N.  F 5 00 

Houck,  James  A 200  00 

Houck,  Clarence  A 50  00 

Hoffman,  F.  W 10  00 

Hodgkins,  Stephen  C 10  00 

Holbrook,  Edwin  M 10  00 

Howe,  John  A 5 00 

Hooper,  Chas.  V 5 00 

Horst,  Rudolph 5 00 


Horst,  Frederick  J $15  00 

Horst,  Frederick  J.,  Jr..  . . 5 00 

“Huylers” 15  00 

Hun,  M.  T.  and  L.  G. . . . . 100  00 

Hughson,  Ward  C 50  00 

Huested,  A.  B.  & Co 15  00 

Hurlbut,  E.  P 10  00 

Hudson,  William  C 10  00 

Huddleston,  Dr.  Chas.  F. . 10  00 

Hunt,  Hamilton 5 00 

Hussey,  Edward  J 5 00 

Hutt,  James  W 25  00 

Huyck  & Argersinger 100  00 

Hy deman,  Moses  M 10  00 

Hy deman,  Solomon  M . . . . 5 00 

Illch,  K.  A.  & Sons 5 00 

Illch,  Simon  & Sons 5 00 

Janes,  Franklin  H 25  00 

Janes,  J.  Edward 15  00 

Jenkins,  Charles  M 50  00 

Jones,  Andrew  B 50  00 

Jones,  Dr.  Charles  E 25  00 

Jones,  Hon.  Edward  F 10  00 

Jones,  J.  A 2 00 

Johnston,  J.  & C 100  00 

Johnson,  Benjamin  W 20  00 

Johnson,  William 10  00 

Johnson,  John  M 5 00 

Johnson  & Co 5 00 

Johnson,  W.  S.  & Bro 5 00 

Johnson,  W.  E 25 

Johnson,  Frank  M 5 00 

Judson,  Miss  Elizabeth  W.  25  00 

Judson,  Albert  C 25  00 

Judson,  Edmund  L.,  2d. . . 5 00 

Kautz,  John  A 10  00 

Karl,  Henry 5 00 

Kaestner,  William 5 00 

K , A.  F 50 

K , C.  A 50 

Keeler,  William  H 100  00 

Keeler,  John 25  00 

Kelly,  John  T 50  00 

Kelly,  Henry 50  00 

Keeshan,  Dennis  J 25  00 

Keeshan  Rhody 2 00 

Kelly,  David  H 1 00 

Kearney,  Palmer  & Kear- 
ney  10  00 

Kearney,  Edward  J 25  00 

Kearney,  Henry  J 50  00 

Kernan  & Shea 10  00 

Kenny,  Edgar 5 00 

Kennedy,  Wm.  M 5 00 

Kean,  Edward  G 5 00 


40 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


Keating,  W.  E $5 

Keller,  Geo.  A 5 

Kemper,  George  G 

Kerwin,  T.  E.  & Bro 5 

King,  J.  Howard 500 

King,  William  H 50 

Kinnear,  Peter 250 

Kidd,  Mrs.  James 200 

Kidd,  William 100 

Kimball,  James  S 25 

Kibbe,  Austin  S - . . 25 

Killip,  Joseph  B 25 

Kingsbury,  John 25 

Kiernan,  Thomas 1 

Klaar,  Fred.  W 5 

Knowles,  Charles  R 25 

Knowles,  E.  J 15 

Knights  of  Labor,  L.  A., 

No.  2020 25 

Kreischer,  Jacob 25 

Kurth,  Max 50 

Kunkle,  Martin  ...  25 

Kyle,  James 

Lansing,  Abraham  250 

Lansing,  Isaac  D.  F 50 

Lansing,  Charles  B 500 

Lansing,  Charles  B 50 

Lansing,  J.  Townsend. . . . 100 

Lansing,  Edward  Y 25 

Lanahan,  Thomas  J 5 

Lang,  Chas.  M 5 

La  Moure,  Dr.  Uriah  B. . . 50 

Lawson,  Joseph  M 10 

Lawson,  Isaac 20 

La  Dow,  Charles 100 

La  Rose,  Anthime  F 50 

Lacy,  Mrs.  William 25 

Lathrop,  Ariel 100 

Lathrop,  Ralph 25 

Laventall,  Julius 20 

Lacey,  Sanford  0 5 

Lawler,  Thomas  C 5 

Lape,  Charles 

Lee,  Geo.  C.,  Jr 5 

Lent,  J 

Lewi,  Dr.  Jos 10 

Liscomb,  O.  P 50 

Littlefield  & Co 25 

Lipman,  Henry  W 10 

Lloyd,  Will.  L 5 

Lodge,  Barrington,  Jr 50 

Lodge,  Benjamin 25 

Long,  James 15 

Logan,  F.  F 5 

Lochner,  Jacob  L 25 

Lonergan,  Cornelius,  Jr. . . 5 

Lord,  Edmund  J 5 


Lord,  Edmund  W $5  00 

Lowenthal,  J 5 00 

Loeb,  Wm.  J 2 00 

Loftus,  Thos.  W 2 00 

Long,  Edward  H 5 00 

Ludden,  Rev.  James 25  00 

Martin,  Prof.  W.  L 25  00 

Martin,  Bradley 100  00 

Martin,  Howard 10  00 

Martin  & Sweny 100  00 

Martin,  James 10  00 

Marsh  & Hoffman 15  00 

Marsh,  Chas.  W 2 00 

Mack,  Ed.  Elisha 50  00 

Mack,  John 50  00 

Marcy,  Henry  S 10  00 

Marcy,  John  H 2 00 

Mann,  Waldman  & Co 50  00 

Mann,  David  S 10  00 

Mann,  Enos  R 5 00 

Mann,  Peter  H 2 00 

Mann,  A.  B 1 00 

Mandelbaum,  Jos 5 00 

Mandelbaum,  M 5 00 

Mather  Bros 50  00 

Matthews,  James  C 10  00 

Mattoon,  David 25  00 

Masterson,  John  P 10  00 

Maher,  Edward  W 5 00 

Mahar,  George 2 00 

MacNaughton,  James.  . . 25  00 

MacDonald,  Allan  R 2 00 

Mangan,  John  C 5 00 

Manson,  James  F 5 00 

Maloy,  Henry  A 2 00 

May,  Chas.  S 5 00 

Marvin,  Selden  E 25  00 

McClure,  Archibald 1,  500  00 

McClure,  Wm.  H 100  00 

McCann,  Patrick 25  00 

McCabe,  J.  J 50  00 

McCredie,  Thomas 1,000  00 

McCredie,  Thomas,  Jr. . . . 50.  00 

McCredie,  James 50  00 

McCredie,  Donald 10  00 

McDonald,  Joseph  K 25  00 

McDonald,  William 10  00 

McDonald,  Donald 10  00 

McDonald,  John 10  00 

McDonald,  Michael  J 2 00 

McDonald,  George 2 00 

McKown,  Dr.  James  F 50  00 

McKown,  James  A 15  00 

McKinney,  J.  & Son 100  00 

McNamara,  John  W 75  00 

McNamara,  James  F 5 00 

McClaskey,  Edward 50  00 


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25 

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25 

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25 

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00 


YOUNG  MENS  ASSOCIATION 


4i 


McNierney,  Rev.  Francis.. 

$50 

McHench,  David  B 

25 

McEwan,  Walter 

25 

McEwan,  John  S 

10 

McKinlay  & Co 

25 

McGahan,  Robert 

20 

McHaffie,  Miss  L.  & Co. . . 

5 

McHugh,  John  H 

10 

McElwee,  Alex.,  Jr 

10 

McGuire,  Rev.  Francis  B . . 

10 

McCall,  William  H 

10 

McGrath,  Thomas  H 

10 

McMillan,  H.  W 

5 

McLane,  Hugh 

1 

McNaughton,  A 

1 

McCanerty,  J 

2 

McClelland,  J.  C 

2 

McElveny,  Daniel 

25 

McIntyre,  James 

5 

McIntyre,  Archibald 

25 

McClosky,  James 

5 

McQuade,  Joseph 

McCarthy,  M 

10 

1 

McHarg,  William  C 

5 

McN 

10 

Meegan,  Edward  J 

200 

Merchant,  Lansing 

250 

Merchant,  Benjamin  B.  . .. 

10 

Mead,  Charles  W 

25 

Mead,  J.  H.  & F.  A 

25 

Mead,  Frank  H 

2 

Mereness,  Dr.  Henry  E. . . 

50 

Merrill,  Dr.  C.  S 

50 

Merrill,  T.  B 

10 

Merritt,  J.  M 

1 

Melius,  Wheeler  B 

10 

Meneely,  George  R 

50 

Mesick,  George  S 

1 

Miller,  Mrs.  George  D 

50 

Miller,  Peyton  F , 

50 

Miller,  S.  Ed.,  Jr 

50 

Miller,  Louis  & Bro 

10 

Miller,  Albert  R 

5 

Miller,  Frank  R 

1 

Mills,  John  G 

25 

Mills,  Arthur  D 

25 

Milks,  Arthur  R 

5 

Milbank,  Dr.  William  E. . 

25 

Mix,  James 

25 

Michael,  Anthony  M 

10 

Morange,  James  W 

50 

Morange,  William  D 

25 

Moak,  Nathaniel  C 

50 

Moran,  John  H 

5 

Mount  Hermon  Lodge,  No. 
38 

50 

Monitor  Ice  Co 

5 

Motz,  Bernard 

10 

Moore,  Robert  H $25  00 

Moore  Bros 25  00 

Moore,  Arthur  D 5 00 

Moore,  James  C 5 00 

Moir,  James 25  00 

Mount  Vernon  Lodge,  No. 

3 25  00 

Morris,  L.  O.,  Post  121,  G. 

A.  R 25  00 

Montignani,  John  F 5 00 

Morrill,  Dr.  Fred 1 00 

Municipal  Gas  Co 500  00 

Munson,  Samuel  L 250  00 

Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co.  100  00 

Murphey,  Elijah  W 100  00 

Murray,  David 50  00 

Murray,  Patrick 5 00 

Murray,  T.  J 50 

Muelich,  Casper 5 00 

Murphy,  D 1 00 

Million’s,  John,  Sons 20  00 

Myers,  John  G 1,  000  00 

Myers’  employees,  John  G.  51  00 

Myers,  Max 25  00 

Myers,  Peter  W 20  00 

Nash,  Willis  G 50  00 

Nangle,  Martin  E 5 00 

Nangle,  Wilbur  H 1 00 

Newman,  John  L 100  00 

Newman,  Chas.,  & Co  ... . 50  00 

Newman,  Rev.  Fred.  M. . . 50  00 

Newman,  Mrs.  Mary  A. . . . 50  00 

Newcomb,  Dr.  Geo.  H. 25  00 

Newcomb,  Ed.  Thomas. . . 50  00 

Nevitt,  Henry  C 10  00 

Neidlinger,  Fred 10  00 

Nichols,  Chas.  B 25  00 

Nolan,  Michael  N 500  00 

Norwood,  Wm.  J 2 00 

Noble,  John  C 1 00 

North,  Howard  C 5 00 

Norton,  David  J 10  00 

Nussbaum,  Myer 10  00 

Nusbaum,  Bernard 3 00 

Nye&Blatner 10  00 

O’Brien,  Philip 25  00 

O’Brien,  Daniel  A 20  00 

Ober,  Fred.  W.  10  00 

Olcott,  Dudley 1,000  00 

Olcott,  John  J* 1,000  00 

Olcott,  Robert 50  00 

Olcott.  Thomas  W 25  00 

Olcott,  Howard  M 25  00 

Oliver,  Robert  S 100  00 

Oliver,  Prof.  Geo.  E 10  00 

O’Leary,  Dr.  Daniel  V 50  00 


00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 


6 


42 


HIS  TOR  Y OF  THE 


Oppenheim,  Leo $5 

O’Flaherty,  P.  J 10 

Parker,  Amasa  J 500 

Parker,  Amasa  J.,  Jr. . . . 1,  000 

Parke,  Philip  W . . 25 

Park,  Sidney  W. . . 5 

Parks,  Gorham 10 

Palmer,  John 100 

Palmer,  Amos  P 50 

Palmer,  E.  De  L 25 

Palmer,  H.  P 

Palmer,  Mrs.  Luther  M. . . 25 

Palmer,  Chas.  L 25 

Parsons,  John  D.,  Jr 1,  000 

Parsons,  Stephen 25 

Parsons,  H.  C 3 

Parish,  Chas.  H 

Pasquini,  Attilio 15 

Paige,  Wm.  B 20 

Paige,  Leonard 10 

Patten,  Francis  S 25 

Patton  & Co 100 

Patterson,  H.  & Co 15 

Patterson,  William 10 

Patterson,  John  S 10 

Peabody,  Charles  J 50 

Perry  & Co . 1 , 000 

Perry,  Mrs.  Eli 350 

Perry,  Isaac  G 30 

Peckham,  Rufus  W 100 

Pease,  Charles  S 10 

Peck,  Charles  F 10 

Persons,  Chester  E 5 

Phillips,  Edward 10 

Phisterer,  Fred 5 

Pierson,  Henry  R 500 

Pierson,  David  A 10 

Pitkin,  William  H 100 

Pike  & Capron 10 

Pladwell,  John 10 

Platt,  R.  D 5 

Platz,  Peter  D 5 

Pohly  & Co 25 

Pohlman,  Jacob  D 10 

Porter,  Ira,  Jr 20 

Porter,  Josiah 10 

Potts,  Jesse  C 50 

Potts,  William 10 

Pruyn,  Charles  L 1,000 

Pruyn,  Robert  C 500 

Pruyn,  Anna  Parker 500 

Pruyn,  J.  V.  L 500 

Pratt,  Louis  W 50 

Pratt,  Aaron  B 25 

Prall,  Rev.  William 5 

Pray,  Arthur  W 10 

Press  and  Knickerbocker..  25 


Price,  Joseph  J $25  00 

Pyrke,  Henry  W 10  00 

Quackenbush,  Cebra 100  00 

Quinn,  Bernard 5 00 

Quinn,  James 50  00 

Rathbun,  Acors 200  00 

Rawson,  E.  G.,  Jr 25  00 

Rally,  W.  A 10  00 

Raynsford,  George  W . . . . 25  00 

Rankin,  Edward  W 10  00 

Rattoone,  Thomas 2 00 

Ramsdell,  Ernest  H 2 00 

Ramsay,  James  A 1 00 

Raymond,  Rev.  A.  V.  V . . 15  00 

Reese,  Benjamin  F 5 00 

Reese,  Rev.  J.  Livingston.  25  00 

Redden,  William 20  00 

Read,  Harmon  P 100  00 

Reilly,  Hugh 25  00 

Reynolds,  John  H 10  00 

Rehm,  C.  J 1 00 

Rehbun,  D.  C. . . 10  00 

Reed,  Ed.  T 10  00 

Ridgway  & Russ 50  00 

Richards,  Albertus  K . . . . 25  00 

Richardson,  Mrs.  John  A . 25  00 

Rice,  William  G 10  00 

Ritchie,  Thomas 5 00 

Ritschel,  Miss  Carrie 6 00 

Roessle,  T.  E.  & Son 200  00 

Rosendale,  Simon  W 100  00 

Ronan,  Edward  D 25  00 

Rorabach,  Peter  J 25  00 

Rogers,  W.  Seymour 5 00 

Rockefeller,  John  G 50 

Robertson,  Matthew  H 25  00 

Robinson,  John 25  00 

Robinson,  Robert 10  00 

Robbins’,  John  S.,  Sons.. . 10  00 

Robinson,  William  D 2 00 

Rooney,  James 25  00 

Rowe,  Marvin  L 5 00 

Robe,  John  W 25  00 

Russell,  Henry 100  00 

Russell  & Lawyer 25  00 

Russell,  Geo.  L 25  00 

Russell,  George  B 2 50 

Ruso,  James  M 20  00 

Russ,  Philip 5 00 

Rudd,  Wm.  P 50  00 

Rudd,  Rev.  E.  Hunting. . . 5 00 

Ruggles,  Wm.  B 10  00 

Ryder,  Morris  L 15  00 

Sard,  Grange 500  00 

Sage,  Dean 500  00 


00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

50 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

25 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 


YOUNG  MENS  ASSOCIATION  43 


Sager  Peter 

$5 

00 

Smith,  Edward  C 

$50  00 

Sager,  Henry 

2 

00 

Smith,  Henry  L 

50  00 

Sanger,  Wm.  H 

5 

00 

Smith,  Chas.  W 

15  00 

Sample,  Wm.  H 

5 

00 

Smith,  Oscar 

25  00 

Sampson,  Chas.  A 

2 

00 

Smith,  Pratt  & Herrick. . . 

25  00 

Saul,  Julius 

100 

00 

Smith,  Patrick 

10  00 

Sand,  John  H 

25 

00 

Smith,  Frank  J 

2 00 

Sanders,  Gerritt  V.  S 

100 

00 

Smith,  J.  H 

50 

Sanders,  Jacob  G 

100 

00 

Smith,  James  J 

2 00 

Sanders,  B.  and  J.  B 

25 

00 

Smith,  E.  H 

5 00 

Sanders,  Sarah  E 

25 

00 

Smith,  Myron  S 

3 00 

Sacks,  David 

3 

00 

Smart,  Wm.  S.,  Jr 

10  00 

Saxe  Bros 

100 

00 

Snaith,  John 

100  00 

Sarauw,  Fred.  W 

5 

00 

Snow,  Horatio  N 

50  00 

Sayles,  James 

5 

00 

Snow,  J.  W 

50 

Schubert  Club 

130 

00 

Snyder,  John 

10  00 

Schuyler,  Samuel 

50 

00 

Spelman,  Benj.  R 

20  00 

Schuster,  Jacob 

5 

00 

Spierre,  Alexander  H 

10  00 

Schermerhorn,  Wm.  R 

10 

00 

Spencer,  Ithamar 

5 00 

Scherer,  Robt.  G 

10 

00 

Sporborg,  Joseph 

20  00 

Schrodt,  John 

10 

00 

Stanford,  Leland 

1,  000  00 

Schrodt,  Michael 

25 

00 

Stanford,  Mrs.  Charles 

10  00 

Schooley,  James  H 

5 

00 

Stedman,  Geo.  L 

100  00 

Scattergood,  Albert  H 

5 

00 

Stedman,  Geo.  W 

5 00 

Schurr,  Christian 

5 

00 

Stevens,  Albert  P 

25  00 

Schnurr,  Max! 

5 

00 

Stevens,  Geo.  H 

10  00 

Schwartz,  Geo 

5 

00 

Stevens,  Clarence  W 

5 00 

Schifferdecker  Bros 

5 

00 

Stephens,  Thomas 

50  00 

Schill,  Gustave  B 

10 

00 

Stepheps,  John  A 

10  00 

Schick,  Christian  A 

2 

00 

Strain  & Reynolds 

100  00 

Schlessinger,  Dr.  Max  . . 

10 

00 

Story,  Geo 

50  00 

Schoneghtada  Lodge  No.  87 

5 

50 

Stone  H.  Shanks 

25  00 

Scrafford,  J.  J 

5 

00 

Stark,  B.  &Co 

25  00 

Seeley,  Geo 

3 

00 

Stickney,  Milton  W 

25  00 

Secor,  Daniel  

1 

00 

Stetson,  Wm.  M 

25  00 

Sewell,  Edward  W 

1 

00 

Sterry,  Edward  S 

25  00 

Shattuck,  James  A 

10 

00 

Stanton,  Benjamin  I 

10  00 

Shattuck,  James  M 

10 

00 

Stewart,  Augustus  T 

5 00 

Shafer,  Peter  H 

2 

00 

Stokes,  E.  F 

2 00 

Shanks,  Chas.  S 

5 

00 

Staley,  Daniel  G 

5 00 

Shankland,  W.  H 

5 

00  1 

Stewart,  Luman  H 

5 00 

Shaw  & Robinson 

25 

00 

Stuart,  G.  A 

2 00 

Shafer,  Robert 

5 

00 

Stolp,  H.  O 

1 00 

Sheldon,  Frank  M 

10 

00 

Stubblebine,  Daniel  H. . . . 

5 00 

Shields  Bros 

5 

00 

Stoneman,  Miss  Kate 

5 00 

Shoemaker  & Pabst 

25 

00 

Strong,  Wm.  N 

100  00 

Sherman,  Michael  B 

100 

00 

Sumner,  The  Misses 

500  00 

Shiloh  Lodge  No.  17 

10 

00 

Sullivan,  Timothy  J 

100  00 

Sisson,  Noel  E 

50 

00 

Sutliff,  John  H 

10  00 

Sickels,  Hiram  E 

50 

00 

Sutherland,  Willard  J . . . 

1 00 

Simpson,  Alexander 

25 

00 

Sweet,  Elnathan 

250  00 

Silberman,  Louis 

5 

00 

Sweny,  Capt.  A.  H 

50  00 

Skelton,  Samuel 

50 

Swift,  Alex.  J 

10  00 

Slingerland,  Henry  H 

50 

00 

Swart,  Adam 

2 00 

Smith,  James  E. 

50 

00 

Sybrandt,  George 

2 00 

Smith,  Dr.  Chas.  H 

50 

00 

Smith,  Wm.  C 

50 

00 

Taylor,  C.  S 

10  00 

Smith, Wm.  H 

50 

00 

Taylor,  Matthias 

1 00 

44 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


Taylor,  James  D $2 

Talcott,  S.  V 10 

Taylor,  J.  E.  &Co 50 

Tabor,  Charles  F . 5 

Templeton,  John  M 5 

Terry,  Rev.  Edward  A . . . 20 

Ten  Broeck,  Edward  B . . . 5 

Ten  Eyck,  James  W. ...  50 

Ten  Eyck,  Jacob  H 25 

Ten  Eyck,  Wm.  C 5 

Ten  Eyck  & Lansing 10 

Tebbutt’s,  M.,  Sons 25 

Terrell,  Wm.  H . 5 

Temple  Chapter  No.  5. . . . 25 

Thacher,  John  Boyd 1,000 

Thacher,  George  H 500 

Thacher,  Ralph  W 50 

Thompson,  William 50 

Thompson,  David  A 25 

Thompson,  Willie  A 5 

Thompson,  William  R. . . . 5 

Thomson,  Lemon  & Co. . . . 100 

Thomas,  Franklin  W 25 

Thomas,  Jeffrey  P 10 

Thomas,  William  M 5 

Throop,  Montgomery  R. . . 25 

Thornton,  William 10 

Thornton,  James 5 

Tillinghast,  J.  Wilbur 100 

Tinkham,  Edwin  M 5 

Townsend,  Franklin 250 

Townsend,  Fred 100 

Townsend,  Dr.  Franklin, 

Jr 25 

Townsend  & Todd 25 

Toedt,  Emanuel  B 25 

Toole,  Edward  J 10 

Toomey  & McElrone 5 

Tracy,  Charles 300 

Tracey,  James  F 25 

Treadwell  & Co 250 

Treadwell,  Miss  Julia 25 

Treadwell,  Mrs.  George  C.  25 

Tremper,  Cantine,  Jr 10 

Tucker,  Luther  H 500 

Tucker,  Dr.  Willis  G 25 

Tucker,  Gilbert  M 50 

Turner,  Charles  H 10 

Union  Clothing  Co 25 

Underhill  & Hatt 5 

Underhill,  E.  W.... 5 

Van  Antwerp,  John  H. . . . 1,000 

Van  Antwerp,  William  H.  250 

Van  Antwerp,  Daniel  L. . . 25 

Van  Antwerp,  Thomas  J. . 10 


Van  Derveer,  Dr.  Albert. . $200  00 
Van  Slyke,  George  W . . . . 200  00 

Van  Rensselaer,  W.  Bayard  100  00 
Van  Heusen,  Charles  & Co.  250  00 

Van  Heusen,  J.  W 5 00 

Van  Valkenburg,  John  L . 10  00 

Van  Wormer,  Jasper 100  00 

Van  Wormer,  William  H..  50  00 

Van  Benthuysen’s,  Charles 

Sons 75  00 

Van  Schaich,  Miss  Jane  C.  150  00 

Van  Gaasbeek,  Amos  C. . . 50  00 

Van  Santvoord,  H.  S 50  00 

Van  Derzee,  Frank 50  00 

Van  Alstyne,  Thos.  J 50  00 

Van  Allen,  Garrett  A 50  00 

Van  Allen,  Charles  H 5 00 

Van  Vliet,  G.  Dudley 25  00 

Van  Loon,  Charles 5 00 

Van  Loon,  Wm.  H 5 00 

Van  Vranken,  Josiah 5 00 

Van  Derpoel,  Isaac 5 00 

Van  Deinse,  H E 50 

Van  Natta,  Stephen  D . . . . 5 00 

Valkenburgh,  S.  M 15  00 

Veeder,  Aaron 10  00 

Visscher,  John  B 100  00 

Visscher,  Edward  W 50  00 

Viele,  Maurice  E 100  00 

Vint,  James 25  00 

Vose,  Rodney 25  00 

Vosburgh,  Fletcher  W. ...  5 00 

Walker,  John  M 50  00 

Walker,  John  E 25  00 

Walker,  William  J 50  00 

Wasson,  James  D 100  00 

Waggoner,  Jacob  H 25  00 

Wagoner,  Richard  B 10  00 

Wagoner,  M.  V.  B 20  00 

Waterman,  Charles  F. . . . 50  00 

Waterman,  Jeremiah 100  00 

Waterman,  Edward  N. . . . 50  00 

Waterman,  Silas  C 5 00 

Waterbury,  William  S. . . . 5 00 

Wade,  Edward 20  00 

Walcott,  F.  S 15  00 

Walcott,  T.  B.,  Jr 10  00 

Ward,  Walter  J 10  00 

Ward,  Dr.  Samuel  B 50  00 

Ward,  Fred.  C 10  00 

Ward  & Byrne 25  00 

Warren,  Mrs.  Clement  H..  50  00 

Walsh,  John  W 25  00 

Walsh,  James  D 15  00 

Walsh,  Henry  S 5 00 

Walsh,  Edward  A 5 00 

Wald,  P.  J.  & Bro 5 00 


00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

DO 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 


YOUNG  MEN'S  ASSOCIATION. 


45 


Walls,  Nicholas  S $50  00 

Wadhams,  Fred.  E 10  00 

Wallace,  Patrick  J 5 00 

Warren,  W 1 00 

Waldman,  Louis  1 10  00 

Waldman,  Samuel  M 15  00 

Wallen’s,  Fred.  J.,  Sons.. . 10  00 

W , D.  F 1 00 

W , A.  D 50 

W , J.  D 50 

Weed,  Parsons  & Co 500  00 

Weaver,  William  H 25  00 

Weaver,  William  J 10  00 

Weaver,  Charles  L 5 00 

Weaver,  GeergeS 100  00 

Weaver,  S.  G 50 

Wendell,  Harvey 10  00 

Wendell,  C.  Edgar 10  00 

Wendell,  William 25  00 

Wells,  Robert  H 25  00 

Wells,  Austin  H 5 00 

Weller,  Anton 25  00 

Weller,  F.  H 1 00 

Welch,  John  G 10  00 

Welch,  George  H 2 00 

Weidman,  Reuben  L 10  00 

Wemple,  Daniel  W 25  00 

Western  Union  Telegraph 

Co 250  00 

Werner,  E.  S 2 00 

Westcott,  H.  R.  & Co 10  00 

Whitney,  W.  M.,  & Co. . . 500  00 

Whitney,  W.  M.,  & Co.’s 

employees 100  00 

Whitney,  Stephen  W. ....  15  00 

Whitney,  Geo.  P 10  00 

White’s,  Isaac,  Sons  & Co.  50  00 

White,  Douglas  L.,  & Co. . 100  00 

White,  Andrew  G 50  00 

White,  Edward  C 5 00 

Whitbeck,  Chas.  H 2 00 

Whitmore,  Samuel  W. . . . 10  00 

Wheeler,  Seth 50  00 

Wheeler,  Edgar  J 25  00 

Wheeler,  William  A 25  00 

Wheeler,  Fred.  A 5 00 

Wheeler,  Fred.  F 5 00 

Whalen,  Nicholas  D 1 00 

Whittle  Bros 10  00 

Williams,  Chauncey  P. . . . 100  00 


Total 


Williams,  Chauncey  P.  Jr.  $10  00 

Williams,  Thomas  J 10  00 

Williams,  A.  C 5 00 

Williams,  E.  J 50 

Williams,  Robt.  D 5 00 

Williams,  Marcus  B 2 00 

Wilson,  Geo.  P 50  00 

Wilson,  James  A.  25  00 

Wilson,  Robert  P 50  00 

Wilson,  Geo.  E . . 2 00 

Winne,  Dr.  Lansing  B. . . . 25  00 

Winne,  Chas.  H 25  00 

Winne,  Walter  M 5 00 

Winne,  Chas.  V 10  00 

Wilbur,  R.  G 25  00 

Wilkinson,  Thos.  F 50  00 

Wing’s,  Albert,  Sons  & 

Co 50  00 

Wiles,  Thomas  S 25  00 

Winchell  & Davis 15  00 

Winship,  Wm.  F 10  00 

Wiley,  Geo.,  & Bro 10  00 

Wickham,  Richard 10  00 

Willers,  Diedrick 5 00 

Willerton,  Edmund  R. . . . 5 00 

Wiley,  E 1 00 

Wilcox,  Theodore  T, 5 00 

Wooster,  B.  W.,  Furniture 

Co 250  00 

Wooster,  Samuel  C 50  00 

WToodward,  James  0 25  00 

Woodward,  John 25  00 

Woods,  Francis  H 25  00 

Woolverton,  Geo.  A 250  00 

Woodruff,  W.  H.  D 10  00 

Wolf,  F.  J 2 00 

Whiff,  John  A 1 00 

Woodbury,  Dr.  J.  H 5 00 

Wright,  Henry  R 20  00 

Wright,  Alfred  W 5 00 

Wygant,  Thomas  H 5 00 

Wynne,  F.  C 1 00 

Yerks,  Geo.  W 100  00 

Young,  Horace  G 25  00 

Young,  Edwin 10  00 

Zwick,  John 5 00 

Zeiser,  Joseph  B 10  00 

Zeller,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 10  00 


$56,518  00. 


X 


* 


